Rossby wave equilibria and zonal jets
Statistical Mechanics
2007-05-23 v1 Fluid Dynamics
Abstract
The problem of coherent vortex and zonal jet formation in a system of nonlinear Rossby waves is considered from the point of view of the late time steady state achieved by free decay of a given initial state. Statistical equilibrium equations respecting all conservation laws are constructed, generalizing those derived previously for 2D inviscid Euler flow. Jet-like solutions are ubiquitous, with large coherent vortices existing only when there is uniform background flow with the precise velocity to cancel the beta effect.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0508168,
title = {Rossby wave equilibria and zonal jets},
author = {Peter B. Weichman},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0508168},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 2 figures