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Let $\hat{\mathbf{u}}$ and $\hat{p}$ be the complex plane wave amplitudes and set $k_x=k_{\perp }$, $k_z=k_{\parallel }$. The linearized Euler equations in the rotating frame areHere $p$ is pressure per unit mass density, including the centrifugal potential. The last line is incompressibility, not an additional equation of state.

Taking the curl eliminates pressure. For constant $\mathbf{\Omega }$ and a divergence-free vector field, $\nabla \times (2\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{\Omega })=2(\mathbf{\Omega }\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}$. Thus the inertial-wave vorticity equation givesApply $\mathbf{k}\times$ once more and use $\mathbf{k}\times (\mathbf{k}\times \hat{\mathbf{u}})=-k^2\hat{\mathbf{u}}$. For a nonzero oscillatory amplitude,so the inertial-wave dispersion relation isThe restoring influence is the Coriolis acceleration. In particular $|\omega |\le 2|\Omega |$. For $k_{\parallel }=0$, the projected linear dynamics have zero frequency; these are steady balanced disturbances rather than the nonzero-frequency branch used in the division above. The spatially uniform $k=0$ mode must be treated separately from this dispersion relation.

Following a fluid element. Let $\mathbf{X}(t)$ be a pathline, satisfying $\dot{\mathbf{X}}=\mathbf{u}(\mathbf{X},t)$. The material derivative, also called the Lagrangian time derivative, is the rate observed while following that element. The multivariable chain rule givesThe partial derivative holds position fixed; the advection term accounts for motion through a spatially varying field. For a vector field, the same formula applies component by component in fixed Cartesian axes.

Momentum balance. For an inviscid flow, pressure is the only surface stress. A small material volume $dV$ has net pressure force $-\nabla pdV$, obtained by the divergence theorem. Its mass is $\rho dV$ and its material acceleration is $D\mathbf{u}/Dt$. Applying Newton's second law gives the Euler equations for an inviscid fluid,This is the local momentum conservation equation when viscosity and physical body forces are absent. A prescribed body force per unit mass would add $\rho \mathbf{f}$ on the right.

Changing to rotating coordinates. In a rotating frame with constant angular velocity $\mathbf{\Omega }$, the lab acceleration is the rotating-frame material acceleration plus $2\mathbf{\Omega }\times \mathbf{u}+\mathbf{\Omega }\times (\mathbf{\Omega }\times \mathbf{r})$. ThereforeFor uniform rotation,With constant ${\rho }_0$, this gives the Euler equation in a uniformly rotating frame,The term subtracted from $p$ is the equilibrium centrifugal contribution. Dividing the bracket by ${\rho }_0$ defines a reduced pressure $\Pi =p/{\rho }_0-|\mathbf{\Omega }\times \mathbf{r}{|}^2/2$, with units ${\mathrm{m}}^2{\mathrm{s}}^{-2}$. The Coriolis acceleration remains a velocity-dependent term.

Linear disturbances. Linearize about rest in the rotating coordinates, with the equilibrium part of $\Pi$ removed. The advective acceleration is quadratic in disturbance amplitude, so the linearized Euler equations and incompressible flow condition areTaking the curl removes the pressure gradient. The identitygives the inertial-wave vorticity equation,

Plane-wave frequencies. Let $\mathbf{k}\ne 0$ and use the given plane wave convention. Incompressible flow requires $\mathbf{k}\cdot {\mathbf{u}}_0=0$, and the vorticity equation givesFor a nonzero frequency, apply $\mathbf{k}\times$ again, using $\mathbf{k}\times (\mathbf{k}\times {\mathbf{u}}_0)=-k^2{\mathbf{u}}_0$. It follows thatThis is the inertial-wave dispersion relation. If $\theta$ is the angle of the wavevector to the rotation axis, the positive angular frequency is $2|\Omega \cos \theta |$. It is largest, $2|\Omega |$, for a parallel wavevector, decreases to zero for a perpendicular one, and is independent of the magnitude of the wavenumber at fixed direction. The two signs describe the two oscillatory polarization branches. When $k_z=0$, the zero-frequency result is obtained directly from the linear equations rather than by dividing by $\omega$; it describes the nonoscillating balanced limit.

Write $\omega$ for the nonzero forcing frequency, to distinguish it from the vertical velocity $w$. Put $k_z=\pi /h$ and $Z(z)=\cos (\pi (2z+h)/(2h))=-\sin (k_{z}z)$. Then $Z(0)=Z(h)=0$ and $Z^{\prime \prime }=-k_z^{2}Z$, so it meets the rigid-wall conditions. Substituting $w=\mathrm{Re}(f(x)e^{-i\omega t}Z(z))$ into the scalar wave equation givesorThe radiation sign for an inertial wave must exclude any disturbance arriving from $x=+\infty$. This means an radiation condition for propagating waves, or bounded decay for an evanescent wave.

For $0<|\omega |<2|\Omega |$, put $q=k_z\sqrt{4{\Omega }^2/{\omega }^2-1}$. The solutions are oscillatory. The inertial-wave dispersion relation is ${\omega }^2=4{\Omega }^2{k}_z^2/(k_x^2+k_z^2)$; its horizontal group velocity is $c_{g,x}=-\omega k_x/(k_x^2+k_z^2)$. Positive energy transport into the channel therefore requires $k_x=-\mathrm{sgn}(\omega )q$. The solution isFor a positive frequency, the phase travels towards negative $x$ while the group velocity travels towards positive $x$. Choosing the outgoing sign from the phase velocity alone would give the wrong result.

For $|\omega |>2|\Omega |$, set $\kappa =k_z\sqrt{1-4{\Omega }^2/{\omega }^2}$. Excluding the exponentially growing solution givesThis disturbance decays away from the wavemaker and does not propagate horizontally. At the cutoff the ODE degenerates to $f^{\prime \prime }=0$; zero frequency is not a nonzero forced harmonic mode with this vertical shape.

There is a second printed inconsistency: the stated velocity $u\mathbf{i}+w\mathbf{k}$, if taken literally with no $y$ dependence and no transverse velocity, cannot support a nontrivial rotating inertial wave. Its transverse momentum equation would give $2\Omega u=0$, then continuity and the rigid walls would force $w=0$. The scalar solutions above are the intended inertial-wave solutions when two-dimensional means dependence on $x,z$ while retaining the transverse component $v$. For a mode, $-i\omega v+2\Omega u=0$ explicitly supplies the generally nonzero transverse velocity. Thus the scalar equation can be solved as requested, but the full vector field needs this correction to the printed two-component description.

For fixed vertical wavenumber $k_z$, the inertial-wave dispersion relation is ${\omega }^2=4{\Omega }^2{k}_z^2/(k_x^2+k_z^2)$. Its horizontal group velocity is the derivative displayed above, opposite in sign to $\omega k_x$. In a half-channel $x>0$, an outgoing propagating mode therefore requires $\omega k_x<0$. With time factor $e^{-i\omega t}$ and $q=|k_z|\sqrt{4{\Omega }^2/{\omega }^2-1}$, choose $e^{-i\mathrm{sgn}(\omega )qx}$. Above the inertial-frequency cutoff, the horizontal wavenumber is imaginary and the appropriate radiation condition instead selects the exponentially decaying solution. Energy transport, rather than the direction of phase travel alone, determines the outgoing sign.