# Rossby number

(Difference between revisions)
 Revision as of 20:28, 22 September 2005 (view source)← Older edit Latest revision as of 20:29, 22 September 2005 (view source) Line 1: Line 1: + [[Category:Dimensionless parameters]] + In [[rotating flows]] (e.g. [[geophysical flows]]), the Rossby number is defined as the ratio of the advective acceleration to the [[Corioilis force|Coriolis acceleration]]. Alternately, it may be thought of as the ratio of the [[inertial force]] to the [[Coriolis force]]. In [[rotating flows]] (e.g. [[geophysical flows]]), the Rossby number is defined as the ratio of the advective acceleration to the [[Corioilis force|Coriolis acceleration]]. Alternately, it may be thought of as the ratio of the [[inertial force]] to the [[Coriolis force]].

## Latest revision as of 20:29, 22 September 2005

In rotating flows (e.g. geophysical flows), the Rossby number is defined as the ratio of the advective acceleration to the Coriolis acceleration. Alternately, it may be thought of as the ratio of the inertial force to the Coriolis force.

$Ro = \frac{\left( \frac{U^2}{L} \right) }{ \left( \Omega U \right) } = \frac{U}{\Omega L}$

where $\Omega$ is the angular speed of rotation, U is the velocity scale and L is the lenth scale.