Global Observations of Oceanic Rossby Waves

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 $\lesssim$10-centimeter amplitude and $\gt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1996-04, Vol.272 (5259), p.234-238
Main Authors: Chelton, Dudley B., Schlax, Michael G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Altimeters
Amplitude
Atmosphere
Atmospheric circulation
Dynamics of the ocean (upper and deep oceans)
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Kelvin waves
Numbers
Ocean waves
Oceanography
Oceans
Physics of the oceans
Planetary waves
Research Article
Rossby waves
Satellites
Sea level
Topography
Wavelengths
Waves
Weather
World ocean
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Description
Summary: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 $\lesssim$10-centimeter amplitude and $\gtrsim$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.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.272.5259.234