Trajectory analysis of the propagation of Rossby waves on the Earth’s δ-surface

Abstract

The propagation of Rossby waves on the Earth’s δ-surface is discussed in a reference frame propagation with the zonal phase speed of the wave. In this reference frame, trajectories and streamlines coincide; the propagation of Rossby waves has a different interpretation than in a reference frame fixed on the ground; and the mechanism for the propagation of Rossby waves depends not only on the different positions of the wave relative to the basic current, but also the variation of β with latitude (called the δ-effect).

Keywords

• Trajectory
• Rossby waves
• β-plane
• δ-effect