Set . The continuity and adiabatic equations give the Lagrangian perturbations
Because the equilibrium is a neutrally stratified polytropic atmosphere, , so the displacement terms cancel and
Using then gives
Eliminating from the two horizontal momentum equations and combining gravity with the vertical pressure force yields
Thus
and the requested coupled first-order system is
Polytropic acoustic mode Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-11-05
In a neutrally stratified polytropic atmosphere, vertically trapped polynomial solutions of degree describe acoustic pressure modes. The degree-zero member is the surface-gravity mode.