Open AccessTrajectory Analysis of the Mechanism for Westward Propagation of Rossby Waves
Author(s) -
Edwin K. Schneider
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the atmospheric sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.853
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1520-0469
pISSN - 0022-4928
DOI - 10.1175/jas-d-14-0242.1
Subject(s) - rossby wave , reference frame , streamlines, streaklines, and pathlines , rossby radius of deformation , potential vorticity , geology , trajectory , frame (networking) , geophysics , mechanism (biology) , geodesy , wave propagation , inertial wave , vorticity , physics , meteorology , mechanics , mechanical wave , longitudinal wave , vortex , climatology , computer science , optics , telecommunications , astronomy , quantum mechanics
An analysis of Rossby wave dynamics in two and three dimensions is carried from the point of view of a reference frame propagating with the zonal phase speed of the wave. Since trajectories and streamlines coincide in this reference frame, the mechanism for (westward) propagation of free waves has a different interpretation than in a reference frame fixed to the ground. In the wave reference frame, propagating free-wave solutions are possible only when parcels approach from the west. When parcels approach from the east, potential vorticity cannot be conserved along trajectories.