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Kelvin wedge
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wave crests in a Kelvin wedge
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Kelvin wedge

fluid mechanics
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wave crests in a Kelvin wedge
wave crests in a Kelvin wedge Figure 12: Wave crests in the Kelvin wedge behind a source S that is moving steadily from left to right. The maximum wavelength λmax depends on the speed of the source, but the angle of the wedge does not (see text).

The term "Kelvin wedge" refers to the V-shaped pattern of waves created behind a moving ship. This phenomenon was first explained by Lord Kelvin and is a result of the dispersive nature of waves on deep water. The angle of this V-shaped wave pattern is fixed at approximately 39 degrees, regardless of the ship's speed. Ships lose energy to these waves, which contributes to their resistance. This resistance can be particularly high when the waves generated by the bow and stern reinforce each other.1

A Kelvin wave, in oceanography, is a long ocean wave that travels eastward towards the coast of South America. It causes a thickening of warm surface water and a rise in sea level. These waves are often associated with the development of El Niño events and are spawned by eastward wind reversals in the equatorial Pacific.2

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. Kelvin wave
  2. fluid mechanics - Waves on deep water

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