ABSTRACT
Edge waves are the longshore periodic wave motions that are trapped at the edge of water bodies. The edge waves thought to be relevant to nearshore processes are refractively trapped gravity waves with horizontal length scales varying from tens of centimeters to a few kilometers. Standing edge waves, of the period of the incident wind waves or longer, have been hypothesized to be important factors in the formation of nearshore circulation patterns, beach cusps, and crescentic bars. Progressive edge waves may play a role in the formation of longshore bars parallel to the beach. These speculations are very difficult to test with field data, and are supported principally by a small number of laboratory experiments. The results and special problems of these experiments are reviewed.
