Abstract
An analytical model is used to study the parameters which mainly influence the internal Rossby radius of deformation Ro, in the ocean. It is shown that Ro is proportional to N0 (the value of Väisälä frequency N, near its maximum) and the scale height 1/b0 which is the e-folding depth of N in the upper ocean. The ocean depth has only a minor influence on Ro. From the data of Emery et al. it seems that N0 increase towards the equator and 1/b0 achieves its maximum in the middle latitudes; so the increase of Ro towards the equator is due to the increase of 1/f and N0; the variation of 1/b0 inhibits this growth. The horizontal fluctuation in Ro is explained by horizontal variations of N0 and 1/b0. The seasonal variation observed in N0 and 1/b0 compensate each other and lead to almost constant Ro.
