Taylor's problem - influences on the spatial distribution of real and virtual amphidromes

Calculations are performed to examine the behavior of incident and reflected Kelvin waves, representing the tide, within a channel closed at one end-the Taylor (Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 20 (2) (1921) 148) problem. Real or virtual (degenerate) amphidromic points may result, their displacement from the central axis of the channel being related to the tidal dissipation. Experiments are performed with the channel at different geographical latitudes and with varying friction. The influence on the spatial distribution of real and virtual amphidromic points is presented. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.