GLOBAL OBSERVATIONS OF OCEANIC ROSSBY WAVES

Rossby waves play a critical role in the transient adjustment of ocean circulation to changes In large-scale atmospheric forcing. The TOPEX/ POSEIDON satellite altimeter has detected Rossby waves throughout much of the world ocean from sea level signals with less than or similar t o 10-centimeter amplitude and greater than or similar to 500-kilometer wavelength. Outside of the tropics, Rossby waves are abruptly amplifi ed by major topographic features. Analysis of 3 years of data reveals discrepancies between observed and theoretical Rossby wave phase speed s that indicate that the standard theory for free, linear Rossby waves is an incomplete description of the observed waves.