Group Velocity of Anisotropic Waves-Part I: Mathematical Expression

The group velocity used in meteorology in the last 30 years was derived in terms of conservation of wave energy or crests in wave propagation. The conservation principle is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for deriving the mathematical form of group velocity, because it cannot specify a unique direction in which wave energy or crests propagate. The derived mathematical expression is available only for isotropic waves. But for anisotropic waves, the traditional group velocity may have no a definite direction, because it varies with rotation of coordinates. For these reasons, it cannot be considered as a general expression of group velocity. A ray defined by using this group velocity may not be the trajectory of a reference point in an anisotropic wave train. The more general and precise expression of group velocity which is applicable for both isotropic and anisotropic waves and is independent of coordinates will be derived following the displacement of not only a wave envelope phase but also a wave reference point on the phase.