Topic
Rossby radius of deformation
About: Rossby radius of deformation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 847 publications have been published within this topic receiving 27859 citations.
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14 Nov 2013
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe how the Ocean-Atmosphere system is driven by transfer of properties between the atmosphere and the ocean. But they do not consider the effects of side boundaries.
Abstract: How the Ocean--Atmosphere System Is Driven. Transfer of Properties between Atmosphere and Ocean. Properties of a Fluid at Rest. Equations Satisfied by a Moving Fluid. Adjustment under Gravity in a Nonrotating System. Adjustment under Gravity of a Density-Stratified Fluid. Effect of Rotation. Gravity Waves in a Rotating Fluid. Forced Motion. Effects of Side Boundaries. The Tropics. Mid-Latitudes. Instabilities, Fronts, and the General Circulation. Units and Their SI Equivalents. Useful Values. Properties of Seawater. Properties of Moist Air. A List of Atlases and Data Sources. References. Index.
5,750 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the first baroclinic gravity-wave phase speed c1 and the Rossby radius of deformation l1 are computed from climatological average temperature and salinity profiles.
Abstract: Global 1 83 18 climatologies of the first baroclinic gravity-wave phase speed c1 and the Rossby radius of deformation l1 are computed from climatological average temperature and salinity profiles. These new atlases are compared with previously published 5 83 58 coarse resolution maps of l1 for the Northern Hemisphere and the South Atlantic and with a 1 83 18 fine-resolution map of c1 for the tropical Pacific. It is concluded that the methods used in these earlier estimates yield values that are biased systematically low by 5%‐15% owing to seemingly minor computational errors. Geographical variations in the new high-resolution maps of c1 and l1 are discussed in terms of a WKB approximation that elucidates the effects of earth rotation, stratification, and water depth on these quantities. It is shown that the effects of temporal variations of the stratification can be neglected in the estimation of c1 and l1 at any particular location in the World Ocean. This is rationalized from consideration of the WKB approximation.
1,290 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a vorticity equation model is used to diagnose the relationship between tropical convective heating and the upper tropospheric rotational wind field, and it is shown that the Rossby wave source can be very different from the simple −fD source often used.
Abstract: Tropical convective heating is balanced on the large scale by the adiabatic cooling of ascent. The horizontal divergence of the wind above this heating may be viewed as driving the upper tropospheric rotational wind field. A vorticity equation model is used to diagnose this relationship. It is shown that because of the advection of vorticity by the divergent component of the flow, the Rossby wave source can be very different from the simple −fD source often used. In particular, an equatorial region of divergence situated in easterly winds can lead to a Rossby wave source in the subtropical westerlies where it is extremely effective. This part of the source can be relatively insensitive to the longitudinal position of the equatorial divergence. A divergence field which is asymmetric about the equator can lead to a quite symmetric Rossby wave source. For a steady frictionless flow the Rossby wave source averaged over regions within closed streamfunction or absolute vorticity contours is, under cert...
1,160 citations
TL;DR: The TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter has detected Rossby waves throughout much of the world ocean from sea level signals with ≲10-centimeter amplitude and ≳500-kilometer wavelength.
Abstract: Rossby waves play a critical role in the transient adjustment of ocean circulation to changes in large-scale atmospheric forcing. The TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite altimeter has detected Rossby waves throughout much of the world ocean from sea level signals with ≲10-centimeter amplitude and ≳500-kilometer wavelength. Outside of the tropics, Rossby waves are abruptly amplified by major topographic features. Analysis of 3 years of data reveals discrepancies between observed and theoretical Rossby wave phase speeds that indicate that the standard theory for free, linear Rossby waves is an incomplete description of the observed waves.
762 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the observed ocean variability in terms of universal spectral relations that depend only on few mean flow parameters such as the first-mode Rossby radius of deformation.
Abstract: Three years of altimetric data from the TOPEX/POSEIDON spacecraft have been used to study characteristics of eddy variability over the World Ocean. The nature of the variability and its spatial structure are characterized in terms of the geographical distribution of eddy energy, as simple approximations of observed regional frequency and wavenumber spectra, and in terms of associated eddy time and space scales of sea surface height (SSH) variability and geostrophic velocity. Emphasis is put on summarizing characteristics typical for dynamically distinct regions of the World Ocean. This effort results in an attempt to describe the observed ocean variability in terms of universal spectral relations that depend only on few mean flow parameters such as the first-mode Rossby radius of deformation. Regional peculiarities follow naturally as deviations from the fundamental frequency and wavenumber spectra presented here. Frequency spectra of both variables can be summarized by three basic types represen...
648 citations