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Stability of the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave by B. J. Hoskins is a Earth and Planetary Sciences article available to read on EtoBox.

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## Abstract A spectral method is used to integrate the primitive equations for the motion on a sphere of a shallow layer of fluid with a free surface. A simple Rossby‐Haurwitz wave of zonal wavenumber 4 is found to change its form little over 24 days, whilst one of wavenumber 8 breaks down completely in 5 days. Inspired by the integrations, the barotropic stability of a wave to a perturbation composed of another wave and a zonal flow is considered. The theory suggests that waves of zonal wavenumber greater than 5 may be unstable because the feedback of the perturbation on itself is positive. Those of wavenumber 5 and less are stable, the feedback being negative. The theory and the general barotropic instability of Rossby waves is tested by integrations of the non‐divergent barotropic model, in which the wave is perturbed by a zonal flow. Some agreement with theory is found. Waves of zonal wavenumber 8 rapidly break down to produce jets in the same direction as the perturbation zonal flow. The stability of these jets is also examined.

Who reads Stability of the Rossby‐Haurwitz wave?

Author

B. J. Hoskins

Publisher

John Wiley and Sons; Wiley (John Wiley & Sons); Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley (ISSN 0035-9009)

Published

1973

Language

EN

Field

Earth and Planetary Sciences (Physical Sciences)