Comment on "The Cross‐Shore Component in the Vertical Structure of Wave‐Induced Currents and Resulting Offshore Transport" by Lu et al.

Understanding wave‐current interactions is crucial to coastal engineering projects and management. However, research gaps still exist in literature, especially on how tides can affect wave dynamics in shallow waters where depth is strongly affected by tidal height variation. This commentary highlights some of these unresolved issues, for an example, in the study of Lu et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc017311). We argue that without applying a fully coupled wave‐current model, vertical and horizontal circulation in the surf zone and offshore of embayed beaches can be very different to wave‐driven currents without considering tidal forcing as Lu et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc017311) appears to have done. Plain Language Summary: This study commented on some unresolved questions in Lu et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc017311). We argue that without applying a fully coupled wave‐current model, vertical and horizontal circulation in the surf zone and offshore of embayed beaches can be very different to wave‐driven currents without considering tidal forcing as Lu et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jc017311) appears to have done. Key Points: Wave‐current interaction can greatly modify significant wave height via water level changes and current advection/refraction of wave energyWave‐driven currents by wave radiation stress gradient may be changed by tides in nearshore areasA rip current is believed to be a prevailing feature as a return flow to cross‐shore flows where depth varies significantly alongshore [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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