Richardson Number

Dynamically significant stability indicator (similar to Burger number). As Ri --> 0 convection becomes strong.

Ri/Ro = Effect of vertical motions / Effect of Non-linear terms

when the Rossby Number, Ro geq 1 then the static stability buoyancy frequency, N = Ri/Ro. When Ro ll 1, N = Bo/Ro

Ri = (g · d Theta/dz)/ [T0 · (dU/dz)2] = N2/(dU/dz)2

Stone 1972 JAS 29 p. 405. For Jupiter: d Theta/dz = 6.0 · 10-10 K/cm and du/dz = 3.8 · 10-4 cm/s, then Ri = 3.7 · 10-3