Instead of using complicated general circulation models (GCMs), a simple semi-analytical model based on ray theory has been used to study energy evolution and ray path of Rossby waves in slowly varying mean flows. Our model yields similar results to those calculated from barotropic models, and also provides a chance to study Rossby waves in the slowly varying flows with both vertical and meridional shears. The model results show that upward Rossby waves can only grow in westerlies, and decay when further ascend. The baroclinic Rossky waves are restrained by the β effect in lower latitude. In the westerly jet with meridional and vertical shears, the barotropic Rossby waves originated from south of the westerly jet, and these can grow while propagating upper-northward. The baroclinic Rossby waves originated from north of the westerly jet and can grow while propagating upward and southward. Such a semi-analytical model provides a simple forecasting tool to allow study of the local weather anomalies to the heating/topography forcing associated with the global warming.
The characteristics of continental shelf waves forced by nonlinear continental shelf topography are studied with a shallowwater model.Results show that there are two topographic Rossby waves and two inertia gravity waves.The northward propagating topographic Rossby wave couples with the inertia gravity wave into an unstable wave in the long wave band.When the continental slope is increased,the topographic Rossby wave still couples with the inertia gravity wave into an unstable wave,but the frequency decreases.In the South China Sea(SCS),the western boundary can develop an unstable wave because of topographic forcing,nonlinear conditions,and increasing amplitude.It is possible that the unstable wave develops into a vortex.In observations,the SCS has a strong western boundary current and abundant mesoscale vortice.There is a strong relationship between the emergence,disappearance,and movement of the circulation's multi-eddy structure and the seasonal evolvement of the SCS's circulation.This article shows a possible mechanism for the formation of vortices in the SCS.
