Linearized particle orbits of a bottom-forced gravity wave ($\xi =A\cos \Theta ,\upsilon =B\sin \Theta$)

For a bottom-forced gravity wave with signed surface coefficient $b$, evaluate the first-order velocity field at a parcel's mean position $(\bar{x},\bar{y})$ and integrate, with $\Theta =k(\bar{x}-ct)$. The horizontal and vertical displacement coefficients areThus the pathline is an ellipse with horizontal and vertical semiaxes $|A|,|B|$ whenever both are nonzero, and a line segment if one vanishes. The identity $A^2-B^2=b^2[(g/(k{c}^2){)}^2-1]$ determines which axis is longer. Also $B(0)=b$ and $B(-d)=a$, verifying the surface and bottom displacements. Closed first-order orbits do not rule out a higher-order mean drift.