 Prismatic-channel shallow water equations

In a channel whose transverse width $b(z)$ does not depend on downstream position, the wetted area is $A(h)={\int }_0^{h}b(z)dz$ and the integrated hydrostatic pressure force divided by density is $P(h)=g{\int }_0^h(h-z)b(z)dz$. With cross-sectionally uniform velocity, volume conservation and momentum conservation give the displayed shallow water equations. Since $P^{\prime }(h)=gA(h)$, the two characteristic speeds are $u\pm c$ with $c^2=gA/A^{\prime }$. For $b(z)=C{z}^p$, $c^2=gh/(p+1)$ and the Riemann invariants are $u\pm 2(p+1)c$.