Abstract: Based on the classical atmospheric wave theory, we derive the wave-lik e solution of the steady Rossby wave with sensible heating and topographic forci ng by the normal mode method. Results show that since the sensible heating is confined in the surface layer, the equal phaselines of its solution tilt westward with increasing height and thereby the wave energy transfers upward, and the ve rtical structure of the solution of sensible heating wave therefore presents sim ilar to that of mountain wave. Using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, features of the large-scale steady atmospheric waves along three latitudes, i.e., 15°N, 30 °N , and 45°N, in East Asia are further investigated to verify the rationality of t his solution. The large-scale steady waves vary obviously with season and latit u de change. In the tropics, latent heating is the key factor of the formation of atmospheric steady waves. In mid latitudes, both sensible heating and topograph y can generate the steady waves. In the subtropics, however, large -scale steady waves depend on the combination of topography, latent heating, as well as sensibl e heating.