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For Students · Rossby Waves

Rossby Waves for a lightning strike

Built for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition. Simulate a lightning strike live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Rossby WavesLive

the meandering jet stream

Controls

Speed1×

Presets

Wave number

Amplitude

The jet stream does not flow straight — it meanders in giant planetary Rossby waves, driven by the Earth's rotation varying with latitude. These waves carry weather systems around the globe and, when they grow large and stall, lock in heat waves, cold snaps, and floods. A few long waves circle the whole hemisphere.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Wave number4

Wavelength10000 km

Driftwestward vs flow

Governing equation

ω = - \frac{β k}{k ^{2} + l ^{2}}, c = - \frac{β}{k ^{2}} (k = 4)

Reading this result: A few long Rossby waves with this 10000 km wavelength drift westward relative to the jet and steer the mid-latitude storm track.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for students?: Yes — this version of "Rossby Waves for a lightning strike" is framed for students learning it for a class or exam. See the concept move instead of memorizing formulas — and check your homework intuition.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.