Characteristic compatibility for an entraining triangular-channel current ($c^2=g^{\prime }h/2$)

For positive depth and reduced gravity, the characteristic speeds are $u,u\pm c$. Along the material characteristic, $D{g}^{\prime }=-2g^{\prime }{w}_e/h$. Along $D_{\pm }={\partial }_t+(u\pm c){\partial }_x$, the left-eigenvector compatibility equations areIf $w_e=0$ and $g^{\prime }$ is spatially constant, these reduce to the Riemann invariants $u\pm 4c$. Variable buoyancy or entrainment prevents that simplification.