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With $y=q^{-1/4}{e}^{\lambda S}$, leading order gives $S^{\prime }=\pm i\sqrt{q}$ and the transport equation gives the $q^{-1/4}$ amplitude. Superposition yields the stated WKB approximation form.

For a stationary internal gravity wave, the Taylor–Goldstein equation gives $m^2=N^2/U^2-U^{\prime \prime }/U-k^2$. In a propagating interval with slowly varying $m$, the WKB approximation has amplitude proportional to $m^{-1/2}$ and phase derivative $m$. The conditions $|m^{\prime }|\ll m^2$ and $|m^{\prime \prime }|\ll |m{|}^3$ fail at a regular turning level. With $U>0$, the upward branch has $m>0$ and negative intrinsic frequency; laboratory group velocity is $U(k^2,km)/(k^2+m^2)$ when the curvature term is negligible.

For an individual monochromatic component in $c=c(Y)$, conserved $\omega ,k$ give $\ell =\sqrt{{\omega }^2/c^2-k^2}$. With amplitude independent of $X,T$, wave-action transport for a variable-speed wave conserves $c^2\ell A^2$ on a positive-$\ell$ branch, hence $A=\mu /(c\sqrt{\ell })$. The divergence at $\ell =0$ signals failure of the outer WKB approximation.

For constant buoyancy frequency $N$ and $U=U_0+Sz$ with $S>0$, a stationary component of horizontal wavenumber $k$ turns at $z_t=(N/k-U_0)/S$ if it propagates at the source. Its vertical wavenumber vanishes there; WKB approximation fails and an Airy function transition connects reflection to an upper evanescent wave.