Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / iii / Paper 52 / 3 / c / Solution

Constant density in each layer and negligible ambient acceleration far from the front giveThis primitive momentum conservation equation remains valid with slowly varying $B$. In conservative form it iswhere the right side is the longitudinal component of the hydrostatic pressure force on the sloping sidewalls. Omitting that term while retaining variable $B$ would give the wrong acceleration.

Together with volume conservation, the principal coefficient matrix in $(h,u)$ isIts real eigenvalues and characteristic curves areThese are downstream and upstream gravity waves relative to the moving fluid. The factor $1/2$ is geometric: the hydraulic depth is $A/b(h)=h/2$. Both waves move downstream in a sufficiently fast current, whereas one can carry information upstream in a slower current.

For $B=1$, differentiate $c^2=g^{\prime }h/2$ and combine the two equations. The Riemann invariants areFor variable $B$ they instead obeywhich also checks that the invariant claim depends on a prismatic channel.