A new approximation for the dynamics of topographic Rossby waves

Yosef Ashkenazy; Nathan Paldor; Yair Zarmi

doi:10.3402/tellusa.v64i0.18160

A new approximation for the dynamics of topographic Rossby waves

Tellus

Volume 64 (2012): Issue 1

By: Yosef Ashkenazy, Nathan Paldor and Yair Zarmi

Open Access

|Dec 2012

Abstract

A new theory of non-harmonic topographic Rossby waves over a slowly varying bottom depth of arbitrary, 1-D, profile is developed based on the linearised shallow water equations on the f-plane. The theory yields explicit approximate expressions for the phase speed and non-harmonic cross-slope structure of waves. Analytical expressions are derived in both Cartesian and Polar coordinates by letting the frequency vary in the cross-shelf direction and are verified by comparing them with the numerical results obtained by running an ocean general circulation model (the MITgcm). The proposed approximation may be suitable for studying open ocean and coastal shelf wave dynamics.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusa.v64i0.18160 | Journal eISSN: 3035-9554

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Language: English

Page range: 18160 - 18160

Submitted on: Sep 14, 2011

Published on: Dec 1, 2012

Published by: Stockholm University Press

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Keywords:

topographic waves,

perturbation method,

lake dynamics,

linearised shallow water equations,

polar coordinates

© 2012 Yosef Ashkenazy, Nathan Paldor, Yair Zarmi, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 64 (2012): Issue 1