Rossby number

The Rossby number (Ro) is a dimensionless number that measures the relative importance of inertial forces compared to Coriolis forces in a rotating system, such as the Earth's atmosphere or ocean. It is named after the American meteorologist Carl-Gustav Rossby. The Rossby number is typically defined as: \[ Ro = \frac{U}{fL} \] Where: - \(U\) is a characteristic velocity scale of the flow (e.g., wind speed).