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For a two-dimensional internal gravity wave with fixed horizontal wave number $k\ne 0$, the vertical velocity amplitude satisfiesThis follows from the Linearized Boussinesq equations just as in part (a), allowing the background buoyancy frequency to vary. The WKB approximation gives locallyIt requires slowly varying stratification compared with the local vertical wavelength, in particular $|m_z|\ll m^2$, and a small-amplitude wave in the inviscid, nonrotating regime. Propagation requires $N>|\omega |$; where $N<|\omega |$, the local vertical wave number is imaginary and the solution is evanescent. Turning levels and abrupt changes need a separate connection calculation. Finite viscosity, background flow, rotation or nonlinear effects require modifications of this model.

The ray tracing equations use the local dispersion relation as a Hamiltonian:The stationary, horizontally uniform background conserves the frequency and horizontal wave number. In two dimensions the group velocity gives $dx/dz=-m/k$. For the specified buoyancy frequency and $\omega =1$, $m^2=256k^2{z}^2$. Hence for $z>0$ the two geometric internal-wave rays through the specified point areEach curve has both directed propagation senses, giving four local directed rays. Their formal intersections with $z=0$ are $x=-8$ and $x=8$.

At $z=0$, $N=\omega$ and $m=0$: this is a double-zero internal-wave turning level, since $m^2$ touches zero without changing sign. The ray becomes vertical geometrically, but its group velocity tends to zero. Taking $k>0$ without loss of generality, the downward branch hasThe formal travel time diverges logarithmically as $z\to 0$. Meanwhile $|m_z|/m^2=1/(16|k|z^2)$ grows, so the WKB approximation fails before that limit; its predicted $|m{|}^{-1/2}$ amplitude cannot be extrapolated to infinity. The spatial ray reaches a finite limiting position, but finite-wavelength behaviour near the zero must be found beyond WKB. There is no evanescent half-space supplied by this particular $N(z)$, so ordinary simple-turning-point reflection cannot be assumed solely from the local ray construction.