Fluid motions in the presence of strong stable stratification

We review the dynamics of stably stratified flows in the regime in which th e Froude number is considered small and the Rossby number is of order one o r greater. In particular we emphasize the nonpropagating component of the f low field, as opposed to the internal wave component. Examples of such flow s range from the later stages of decay of turbulent flows to mesoscale mete orological flows. Results from theoretical analyses, laboratory experiments , and numerical simulations are pre sented. The limiting form of the equati ons of motion appears to describe the laboratory experiments and numerical simulations rather well. There are similarities with the dynamics of two-di mensional flows, but three-dimensional effects are clearly important. A num ber of remaining open issues are discussed.