Speaker: Prof. Matthew Hitchman, , Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, UW-Madison
Abstract: The mathematical and physical basis for Rossby waves in neutral fluids is described. Conservation of potential vorticity creates an elastic restoring mechanism for an upstream-propagating transverse wave on a rotating sphere. This Beta effect is due to the meridional gradient of planetary vorticity. Manifestations include "Alberta Clippers" and the "Polar Vortex of 2013-14". Violations of the non-acceleration theorem during Rossby wave breaking (RWB) couple the Rossby wave activity conservation relation to the mean flow equations. Consideration of 3D RWB provides insight into stratosphere - troposphere
exchange and the distribution of tropopause folds.