Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2026 iii Paper 314 2 d Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
For an incompressible perturbation, , so . The vertical equation givesIncompressibility together with the horizontal equation also givesEquating the two expressions yieldsThe positive-frequency branch is the surface gravito-inertial waveIts vertical displacement decays as into the atmosphere .
Surface gravito-inertial wave Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-11-05
A surface gravito-inertial wave combines free surface gravitational restoration with the Coriolis force. For a uniform incompressible fluid occupying , take gravity downward, rotation normal to the surface and . A mode proportional to must decay downward, so .
The linear rotating momentum equations and incompressibility giveThe kinematic boundary condition is at the surface. The dynamic condition is , so vertical momentum gives . Eliminating yieldsFor , this isFor nonzero horizontal wavenumber, this branch has and an evanescent vertical structure. With no rotation it reduces to the deep-water gravity wave relation .
The orientation and incompressible deep-fluid assumptions matter. A tilted rotation axis, finite depth or compressible polytropic atmosphere has a different eigenvalue problem; the displayed formula is the stated incompressible model.