Rossby deformation radius

The Rossby deformation radius is a scale that measures how large weather patterns or oceanic features are when influenced by Earth's rotation and gravity. It represents the balance point between gravity-driven waves that try to restore the atmosphere or ocean to equilibrium and the Coriolis effect caused by Earth's rotation. Think of it as the typical size or extent of large-scale systems like cyclones or ocean currents; smaller than this radius, local forces dominate, while larger systems are influenced by planetary rotation, shaping their size and behavior.