Generation and structure of Rossby vortices in rotating fluids

The formation of zonal flows and vortices in the generalized Charney-Hasegawa-Mima equation is studied. We focus on the regime when the size of structures is comparable to or larger than the deformation (Rossby) radius. Numerical simulations show the formation of anticyclonic vortices in unstable shear flows and ringlike vortices with quiescent cores and vorticity concentrated in a ring. Physical mechanisms that lead to these phenomena and their relevance to turbulence in planetary atmospheres are discussed.