MichiganWx

Thank you both so much. It has been so frustrating not knowing something so elementary.

Can I ask a stupid question please? I have searched literature and my copy of Holton's textbook and I just can't find a clear explanation anywhere. What is meant by "wave 1" and "wave 2"? I assume "wave 1 forcing" is the energy/momentum transfer resulting from the upward propagation and dissipation in the stratosphere. But for the life of me, I just don't know what wave 1 and wave 2 means, and I haven't been able to figure it out. Is it the number of waves? Does their position matter? Are they longwave troughs? ridges? Both? I don't get it. I have an MS in atmospheric science Thank you.