Abstract
It is shown that Rosby wave and Kelvin wave can be converted into each other at a boundary in a rotating shallow water system using numerical experiments. This conversion makes it possible that Rossby wave pass through an island in the transient process of an initial value problem. In the steady state, it makes difference on flow resistance between two basin connected by a channel according to its latitude. This property of the waves can affect the 3-D circulation such as the thermohaline circulation of the ocean not only 2-D flow.
