Exciting Standing Rossby Waves in the Large Rotating Annulus

TL;DR

This paper reports on 93 laboratory experiments using rotating tanks to identify configurations that excite and sustain standing Rossby waves, advancing understanding of atmospheric wave phenomena through physical analogues.

Contribution

The study systematically explores experimental setups to reliably generate and observe standing Rossby waves in a rotating tank, providing valuable data for atmospheric dynamics research.

Findings

Identified specific configurations that excite standing Rossby waves

Demonstrated sustained Rossby wave patterns in laboratory settings

Provided a comprehensive dataset for future atmospheric wave studies

Abstract

Laboratory experiments with rotating tanks remain the premier physical analogue for atmospheric dynamics. Often, the equipment involved is engineered to be sufficiently versatile and modular so as to be able to accommodate experiments that explore a wide range of atmospheric processes. The exercise of initially configuring the apparatus then involves running experiments that sweep through parameter space to identify the specific dynamical regimes of interest. This process is typically considered part of the development and testing phase of a given project, and these initial experiments are generally left unreported; while many of these test experiments may not be directly relevant to the project at hand, they may be useful for other applications or scientific communities. Here we report on a series of 93 different laboratory experiments run with the intention of identifying suitable experimental configurations that excite and sustain standing Rossby waves.