Equatorial wave velocity polarization ($u=\frac{i(\omega yv-k{v}^{\prime })}{{\omega }^2-k^2},\eta =\frac{i(kyv-\omega v^{\prime })}{{\omega }^2-k^2}$)

In dimensionless equatorial wave units with gravity wave speed and beta plane coefficient one, a Fourier mode $e^{i(kx-\omega t)}$ obeys $\omega u-k\eta =iyv$ and $\omega \eta -ku=-i{v}^{\prime }$. Inverting this two-by-two linear system gives the displayed wave polarization, provided ${\omega }^2\ne k^2$. Inserting it in the meridional momentum equation gives the Hermite differential equation after a Gaussian factor is removed. At singular values the original equations, rather than these quotient formulae, determine whether a trapped mode exists.