Adjustment time of the first baroclinic Rossby wave in the global oceans

According to the freely linear Rossby wave theory, global 1°×1° climatology of Rossby deformation radius and phase speed are studied under the flat bottom fluid approximation. Geographical variations in the contours of the phase speed are very similar to those of the Rossby radius of formation, which are mainly affected by stratification, rotation, water depth, topography, etc. The basin-crossing time of the first baroclinic Rossby wave is obtained and analyzed in the global ocean basins. The results are useful to learn the importance of Rossby wave and the adiabatic adjustment of large-scale ocean circulation.