contributing to the body's motion. These considerations are captured in the nondimensionalized Rossby number. Rossby parameter In stability calculations, the rate of change of along the meridional direction becomes significant. This is called the Rossby parameter and is usually denoted where is the in the local direction of increasing meridian. This parameter becomes important, for example, in calculations involving Rossby waves. See also Beta plane Earth's rotation Rossby-gravity waves References Atmospheric dynamics Oceanography fr:Force de Coriolis#Paramètre de Coriolis