Observed zonal propagation speeds of nonlinear eddies, derived using an eddy tracking algorithm, are compared with the classical long Rossby wave speed, Doppler shifted by just the depth mean velocity, the latter obtained from annual mean hydrography and an ocean atlas. Despite neglecting any Doppler shift from baroclinic background flows, the correspondence between observed eddy propagation speeds and theoretical long Rossby wave phase speeds is improved in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current region, where both show eastward propagation at speeds of 1–3 cm s⁻¹, although the observed eastward eddy propagation speeds are systematically lower than the predicted Rossby wave phase speeds.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	baroclinic eddies, depth, mean flow
Research Division:	Earth Sciences
Research Group:	Oceanography
Research Field:	Physical oceanography
Objective Division:	Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Natural Hazards
Objective Group:	Understanding climate change
Objective Field:	Understanding climate change not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Klocker, A (Dr Andreas Klocker)
ID Code:	96089
Year Published:	2014
Funding Support:	Australian Research Council (DE140100076)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	38
Deposited By:	IMAS Research and Education Centre
Deposited On:	2014-10-20
Last Modified:	2017-11-01
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