Satellite altimeter data have revealed over the past decade many new and unexpected properties of baroclinic Rossby wave propagation, such as anomalous too-fast phase speed at mid and high-latitudes, and the widespread occurrence of eddy-like features. Ensuing theoretical work established the importance of the background mean flow, topography, and possible surface intensification to account for too-fast Rossby waves. Topographic variations were also found to play a role in causing a splitting of energy between wave modes, which may sometimes account for apparent spontaneous wave emission, which can be quantified using so-called mode conversion theory. Rossby waves have a SST signature which is expected to depend on the eddy or wave nature of the westward propagating signals, as well as on their possible coupling with the mixed layer. Further work remains to be done to understand the physical processes controlling the westward penetration of boundary-driven waves, as well as to understand the generation mechanisms for signals not originating from the eastern boundaries.
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