On amphidromic points
Amphidromic points are isolated points at which the wave amplitude vanishes. We investigate the consequences of their existence in a wave field. For example, one method for solving the mild-slope equation (this models the propagation of water waves over a variable bathymetry) begins by writing the complex potential in terms of a real amplitude A and a real phase S , both of which are functions of position. We show that S is not continuous at amphidromic points, whereas its gradient is singular there. We also find local approximations for A and S . We discuss various differential equations governing A and S , with emphasis on their properties in the presence of amphidromic points, and find a new pair that is well behaved there. We discuss two simple examples for which the amphidromic points can be found explicitly. Finally, we show that our analysis can also be extended to Laplace’s tidal equations.