An experimental system for forming a rotating paraboloid shaped shallow water with a free surface was conducted to study coherent vortex structures in a differentially rotating quasi two dimensional zonal flow.Flow visualization and laser light scattering techniques were used to obtain the information of spatial flow patterns.Experimental results show that the coexistence of Coriolis effect and strong shear in latitudinal zones may lead to formation of coherent vortices.Power spectra analysis and photographs which were taken in a reference frame rotating with the observed vortices also justified the emergence,drift and evolution of persistent vortices on the large scale.Locked vortex state manifests the cyclone and anticyclone asymmetry.
