The Effect of Current Shear on Topographic Rossby Waves

Abstract Topographic Rossby waves are long-period waves which occur on continental slopes. In this paper we examine the effect of a mean current on these waves, when the current is directed along the isobaths and has a linear shear in the transverse direction. Solutions are obtained in terms of Whittaker functions and are applied to some data analyzed by Hamon et al. (1975), which has been interpreted as evidence of topographic Rossby waves by Garrett (1979). The modifications due to a linear friction law are also considered.