We consider slow oscillations trapped about axisymmetric islands and seamounts. ω is in the range [lsim ] δ/2 (ω is the frequency divided by f, the Coriolis parameter, and δ the fractional change in depth). The periods, for example, are [gsim ] 2·4 days for an island with a sloping ‘skirt’, h [vprop ] r½, where h is the depth and (r, θ) are polar co-ordinates in the plane tangent to the mean sea surface. Energy leaks slowly away from the topography in Rossby waves. In the limiting case of a cylindrical island with vertical walls there are no such trapped motions, but incident Rossby waves are scattered anisotropically. If γ, the ratio of the island radius, a, to the Rossby wavelength, is small, the scattering cross-section ∼ γ3a. The free oscillations at seamounts and islands with skirts allow much stronger scattering (with cross-section ∼ a/γ, ∼ a wavelength), when one of their frequencies is near that of the incident wave.

The theory suggests that measurements of Rossby waves will be possible at small islands, but that the many local oscillations in the same frequency range will add some confusion.