Exact expressions for transient forced internal gravity waves and spatially-localized wave packets in a Boussinesq fluid

We re-examine a simple model describing the propagation of transient forced internal gravity waves in a Boussinesq fluid with constant horizontal mean velocity which was previously studied by Nadon and Campbell (Wave Motion, 2007). The waves are generated by a horizontally-periodic lower boundary condition and propagate upwards. We derive an alternative exact expression for the solution which more readily gives insight into the behaviour of the solution at high altitude. Some special cases of lower boundary conditions are considered to illustrate the features of the solution. This form of the solution allows us to use a Fourier transform to derive the solution for the more general situation where a wave packet is generated by a horizontally-localized lower boundary condition, comprising a continuous spectrum of horizontal wavenumbers or Fourier modes. This is a more realistic representation of internal gravity waves in the atmosphere and can be used as a starting point for investigating waves generated by an obstacle of finite horizontal extent such as an isolated mountain or a mountain range.