Rossby wave equilibria and zonal jets

Abstract

The problem of coherent vortex and zonal jet formation in a system of nonlinear Rossby waves is considered from the point of view of the late time steady state achieved by free decay of a given initial state. Statistical equilibrium equations respecting all conservation laws are constructed, generalizing those derived previously for 2D inviscid Euler flow. Jet-like solutions are ubiquitous, with large coherent vortices existing only when there is uniform background flow with the precise velocity to cancel the beta effect.