 Hydraulic flow in an inverted channel

A light shallow layer flows below a roof of height $H(x)$ and width $W(x)$ through a deeper approximately motionless ambient. Hydrostatic equilibrium and inviscid steady Bernoulli equation give the displayed specific energy for constant volume flux $Q$ and reduced gravity $g^{\prime }$. At fixed position, $E_h=g^{\prime }(1-{\mathrm{Fr}}^2)$ and $h_c=[Q^2/(g^{\prime }{W}^2){]}^{1/3}$. A roof depression raises the minimum admissible energy, just as a bed elevation does for a heavy lower layer.