Airflow over mountains: The lee‐wave amplitude

Although orographic lee waves are probably common over the British Isles, their amplitude is so critically dependent on airstream characteristics and on the scale of local topography that they are likely to be insignificant unless a variety of conditions is satisfied. Precise criteria for large‐amplitude waves cannot be formulated for airstreams in general, but simplification of the general problem illustrates the pronounced effect of mountain size and shape, stability and wind speed on the lee‐wave amplitude.