Barotropic disturbance

barotropic disturbance

1. (Or barotropic wave.) A wave disturbance in a two-dimensional flow, the driving mechanism for which lies in the variation of vorticity of the basic current and/or in the variation of the vorticity of the earth about the local vertical.

   
   

   Such wave disturbances are also known as Rossby waves.
   See also barotropic instability.

   
   
2. An atmospheric wave of cyclonic scale in which troughs and ridges are approximately vertical.

   
   

   
   See cyclone wave, short wave, barotropy;
   compare baroclinic disturbance.

   
   

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1. (Or barotropic wave.) A wave disturbance in a two-dimensional flow, the driving mechanism for which lies in the variation of vorticity of the basic current and/or in the variation of the vorticity of the earth about the local vertical.