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Take $f_0>0$ for definiteness and define $K=(k^2+l^2{)}^{1/2}>0$. Thermal-wind balance gives $U_z=-b_y/f_0=\Lambda$, and the lower boundary condition fixes $U=\Lambda z$. The basic interior quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity has no gradient, so a boundary-supported normal mode ${\psi }^{\prime }=\mathrm{Re}[\varphi (z)e^{i(kx+ly-\omega t)}]$ has zero interior potential-vorticity perturbation. Its vertical equation isDecay upward selects $\varphi =A{e}^{-{\mu }_{0}z}$.

The buoyancy perturbation is $b^{\prime }=f_0{\psi }_z^{\prime }$. At a rigid boundary $w^{\prime }=0$, linearized material conservation of buoyancy givesAt $z=0$, this is $c{\varphi }^{\prime }(0)+\Lambda \varphi (0)=0$, where $c=\omega /k$ for $k\ne 0$. The Eady edge wave therefore hasIt is an exponentially trapped boundary-buoyancy wave, not a vertically propagating interior mode. The formula for $\omega$ extends to $k=0$, where the perturbation is stationary.

For the two-region problem, absence of a density jump at the common material interface requires continuity of buoyancy:Thus its basic slope is $a=h_y=f_0({\Lambda }_1-{\Lambda }_2)/(N_1^2-N_2^2)$. For a nondegenerate stratification contrast, its variation over horizontal scale $L$ is $aL/D=O(\mathrm{Ro}/\mathrm{Bu})$, which is small in the usual quasi-geostrophic approximation with Burgers number of order one. The matching conditions can therefore be applied at the constant reference level $z=0$ to leading order. An exceptionally small stratification contrast would require checking this flat-interface ordering separately.

Pressure and normal velocity must be continuous because there is no membrane or singular interfacial force. Since base buoyancy is continuous, expanding pressure continuity at the displaced interface gives simply ${\varphi }_1(0)={\varphi }_2(0)$. The base horizontal velocity is also continuous there; call it $U_I$. Decay away from the interface then givesLinearized buoyancy conservation in each region givesMatching normal velocity gives $w_1^{\prime }=w_2^{\prime }$: the common slope correction to normal velocity cancels because pressure continuity also makes the horizontal velocity perturbation continuous. HenceThe quasi-geostrophic wave at a stratification interface has intrinsic phase velocityAs $N_1/N_2\to \infty$ with $N_2$ and the shears bounded, the lower region becomes effectively rigid andrecovering the upper-fluid Eady edge wave. The matching calculation describes regular interface-supported modes; arbitrary interior potential-vorticity initial disturbances can additionally be advected by the shear.