The rotation of the earth, including the variation of the rotational rate and polar motion, represents the statement of the earth’s overall movement and interactions among the solid earth, atmosphere and ocean on a variety of space-time scales. They make the earth’s complex dynamical system under the conservation of angular momentum. The application and development of recent space geodetic techniques greatly promote the researches on the interactions between the earth rotation and the activities of atmosphere and ocean. This review will mainly report the progress in researches on the earth rotation and the activities of atmosphere and ocean as well as the air-sea interaction in the tropics, and prospect the direction for future theoretical investigations. The rotation of the earth, including the variation of the rotational rate and polar motion, represents the statement of the earth’s overall movement and interactions among the solid earth, atmosphere and ocean on a variety of space-time scales. They make the earth’s complex dynamical system under the conservation of angular momentum. The application will develop the recent space geodetic techniques greatly promote the researches on the interactions between the earth rotation and the activities of atmosphere and ocean. This review will mainly report the progress in researches on the earth rotation and the activities of atmosphere and ocean as well as the air-sea interaction in the tropics, and prospect the direction for future theoretical investigations.