Rossby number

The Rossby number Ro ( by Carl -Gustaf Rossby, not R0 ) is a dimensionless parameter, which is mainly used in geophysics at oceanographic and atmospheric phenomena. It indicates the influence of the Coriolis effect due to the Earth's rotation.

The Rossby number is the ratio of inertial acceleration to Coriolis acceleration:

With

  • U: the characteristic velocity of the object in
  • L: the characteristic length on which the phenomenon considered is happening at the surface
  • : The Coriolis parameter Earth's rotation and
  • Latitude

For large Rossby numbers () one may neglect the Earth's rotation.

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