Rossby Waves — Beta-Plane

Barotropic atmosphere · Coriolis gradient · westward propagation




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ω (frequency)
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c_px (phase)
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c_gx (group)
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Direction
Rossby wave dispersion: ω = -βk/(k²+l²+f₀²/N²H²) — always westward (ω/k < 0). Phase velocity westward; group velocity can be eastward for short waves. β = df/dy (Coriolis gradient with latitude). Critical for jet stream meandering, blocking events, and teleconnections (e.g., PNA pattern).