The rigid bottom reflects the lower-layer wave. Its repeated returns to the interface create an internal-wave cavity response containing both upward and downward components in , while the upper layer contains the imposed incident wave and one net reflected wave.
Let the lower downward and upward particle-displacement coefficients be and , multiplying and respectively. Their vertical displacement has opposite polarization signs:
Zero normal velocity at gives , where . Interface continuity consequently becomes
For the specified angles, and . Thus
The dependence on bottom depth is therefore
In particular,
Here and , so the positive depths giving this maximum are
The lower vertical-displacement standing-wave envelope is , while its horizontal-displacement envelope has the complementary cosine form. These distinguish the total standing disturbance from the amplitude of either traveling component. The traveling amplitude has minimum at .
Since , . Hence the net upward-propagating wave in the upper layer has amplitude magnitude for every , with the phase given above. At an enhancement maximum, and . No energy escapes through the bottom, so complete eventual reflection is consistent with energy conservation.