Chapter 7

Key Concepts

1. Dynamic wave-types

• acoustic (sound)
• gravity
• Rossby

2. Wave Characteristics

• wavelength/wavenumber
• frequency/period
• wave train
• phase speed
• group velocity

3. Linearized Waves

• assumptions

4. Gravity Waves

• restoring force: buoyancy
• phase speed/group velocity

5. Rossby Waves

• conservation of PV
• nonzero df/dy important (beta-plane)
• dispersive

6. Geostrophic Adjustment

• energy partitioned between geostrophic flow and gravity waves
• fundamental: helps explain why large-scale atmosphere is quasi-geostrophic

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