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The WKB approximation treats the vertical wavenumber as locally constant over one vertical wavelength. Write $w=\Re \{A(z)e^{ikx+i{\int }^{z}m(s)ds}\}$, with $|m^{\prime }|\ll m^2$ and $|A^{\prime }|\ll |mA|$. For the stationary internal-wave WKB solution, $A\propto m^{-1/2}$ away from singular or turning levels. A small terrain slope and small perturbations are also needed for Linearized Boussinesq equations.

Let $p$ be the perturbation fluid pressure divided by reference mass density, and $b$ the buoyancy perturbation. The steady Linearized Boussinesq equations and incompressibility condition areFor an $e^{ikx}$ component, elimination gives $u=-w^{\prime }/(ik)$, $b=-N^{2}w/(ikU)$ and $p=(U{w}^{\prime }-U^{\prime }w)/(ik)$. Substitution into vertical momentum gives the exact stationary Taylor–Goldstein equationThe leading WKB approximation therefore identifiesThe kinematic boundary condition fixes the horizontal wavenumber to $k=k_T$ for the sinusoidal forcing.

For explicit heights assume a constant positive buoyancy frequency $N$, $0<k{U}_0<N$, and $|S|/N\ll 1$. The latter is a large gradient Richardson number. The linear shear flow has $U^{\prime \prime }=0$, so the propagation condition is $|U|<N/k$.

For $S<0$, the first obstruction is the critical level of an internal gravity wave atAs $z\uparrow z_c$, $m\sim N/U\to \infty$. The critical-height approach of a stationary wave in linear shear has upward group velocity $c_{gz}\sim k{U}^2/N$, so the travel time to $z_c$ diverges: the height is a supremum, approached in the ideal ray model. Here $|m^{\prime }|/m^2\to |S|/N$, which can remain small; it would be incorrect to say that the short-wavelength WKB approximation necessarily fails solely because $m$ diverges. Nevertheless $w\propto U^{1/2}$ and displacement $w/(ikU)\propto U^{-1/2}$, so a finite disturbance eventually violates linearity. Dissipation and overturning also matter near this singular level.

For $S>0$, the turning height of a stationary wave in linear shear isAt $z_t$, $m=0$ and the WKB approximation fails. An Airy function matching region describes reflection and an upper evanescent wave. Thus $z_t$ is the highest height of vertical propagation, rather than a sharp cut-off of every disturbance.

The problem initially allows $N(z)$ to vary. Without the extra constant-$N$ assumption, replace the explicit turning height by the first root of $N(z)=k|U_0+Sz|$ encountered on a propagating branch. A declining $N(z)$ can cause a turning level before the negative-shear critical level. The two closed-form heights require the stated constant-stratification assumption.