Mesoscale vortex shedding from large islands: A comparison with laboratory experiments of rotating stratified flows

Summary Mesoscale vortex shedding in the wake of large islands has been analysed with respect to the influence of stratification and background rotation. Comparison with results from laboratory experiments on rotating-stratified flows past isolated obstacles based on Rossby and Froude numbers have shown that forFr<0.4 vortex shedding can be expected for moderate rotation rates. Rossby numbers for cases of atmospheric vortex streets were found to be much larger than in laboratory experiments. Depending on the Froude number different flow pattern in the wake of three-dimensional obstacles have been identified in both, laboratory experiments and atmospheric observations.With 5 Figures