Topographic buoyancy boundary condition for quasi-geostrophic flow ($D_g[(f_0/N^2){\psi }_z+b]=0$)

For a small steady lower-boundary height $b(x,y)$, impermeability gives $w={\mathbf{u}}_g\cdot \nabla b$ at the reference plane. Substitution in the buoyancy equation $D_g(f_0{\psi }_z)+N^{2}w=0$ yields the displayed boundary condition. For nonzero Fourier modes in a uniform crossing current, this fixes ${\psi }_z(0)=-N^{2}b/f_0$. An upper radiation condition or decay condition is still needed to select the physical response.