Rossby wave propagation is investigated in the framework of an idealized middle-latitude quasigeostrophic
coupled ocean–atmosphere model. The Rossby waves are observed to propagate faster than both
the classical linear theory (unperturbed solution) and the phase speed estimates when the effect of the zonal
mean flow is added (perturbed solution). Moreover, using statistical eigentechniques, a clear coupled
Rossby wave mode is identified between a baroclinic oceanic Rossby wave and an equivalent barotropic
atmospheric wave. The spatial phase relationship of the coupled wave is similar to the one predicted by
Goodman and Marshall, suggesting a positive ocean–atmosphere feedback. It is argued that oceanic Rossby
waves can be efficiently coupled to the overlying atmosphere and that the atmospheric coupling is capable
of adding an extra speedup to the wave; in fact, when the ocean is simply forced, the Rossby wave
propagation speed approaches the perturbed solution
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