Classification of Atmospheric Traveling Waves at Cloud Level

Abstract We classify within the quasi-geostrophic framework all types of traveling waves in zonal bands of the planetary atmosphere at cloud level according to their wave speeds. This classification pertains to waves of all amplitudes, going beyond the small-amplitude perturbative regime; it provides a structurally robust criterion for determining which traveling-wave profiles are dynamically possible. We also show that each wave classification type was observed on Jupiter or Saturn. Building on this classification, we investigate the related rigidity issue for large-amplitude traveling waves and waves propagating near shear flows. Our study offers a unified quantitative characterization of the intrinsic constraints for traveling waves in the quasi-geostrophic regime of planetary atmospheric flow.