Global Regularity for an Inviscid Three-dimensional Slow Limiting Ocean Dynamics Model

We establish, for smooth enough initial data, the global well-posedness (existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on initial data) of solutions, for an inviscid three-dimensional {\it slow limiting ocean dynamics} model. This model was derived as a strong rotation limit of the rotating and stratified Boussinesg equations with periodic boundary conditions. To establish our results we utilize the tools developed for investigating the two-dimensional incompressible Euler equations and linear transport equations. Using a weaker formulation of the model we also show the global existence and uniqueness of solutions, for less regular initial data

Assimilation of nearly turbulent Rayleigh-B\'enard flow through vorticity or local circulation measurements: a computational study

We introduce a continuous (downscaling) data assimilation algorithm for the 2D B\'enard convection problem using vorticity or local circulation measurements only. In this algorithm, a nudging term is added to the vorticity equation to constrain the model. Our numerical results indicate that the approximate solution of the algorithm is converging to the unknown reference solution (vorticity and temperature) corresponding to the measurements of the 2D B\'enard convection problem when only spatial coarse-grain measurements of vorticity are assimilated. Moreover, this convergence is realized using data which is much more coarse than the resolution needed to satisfy rigorous analytical estimates

Long-time Behavior of a Two-layer Model of Baroclinic Quasi-geostrophic Turbulence

We study a viscous two-layer quasi-geostrophic beta-plane model that is forced by imposition of a spatially uniform vertical shear in the eastward (zonal) component of the layer flows, or equivalently a spatially uniform north-south temperature gradient. We prove that the model is linearly unstable, but that non-linear solutions are bounded in time by a bound which is independent of the initial data and is determined only by the physical parameters of the model. We further prove, using arguments first presented in the study of the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation, the existence of an absorbing ball in appropriate function spaces, and in fact the existence of a compact finite-dimensional attractor, and provide upper bounds for the fractal and Hausdorff dimensions of the attractor. Finally, we show the existence of an inertial manifold for the dynamical system generated by the model's solution operator. Our results provide rigorous justification for observations made by Panetta based on long-time numerical integrations of the model equations

Continuous Data Assimilation for the 2D B\'enard Convection through Velocity Measurements Alone

An algorithm for continuous data assimilation for the two- dimensional B\'enard convection problem is introduced and analyzed. It is inspired by the data assimilation algorithm developed for the Navier-Stokes equations, which allows for the implementation of variety of observables: low Fourier modes, nodal values, finite volume averages, and finite elements. The novelty here is that the observed data is obtained for the velocity field alone; i.e. no temperature measurements are needed for this algorithm. We provide conditions on the spatial resolution of the observed data, under the assumption that the observed data is free of noise, which are sufficient to show that the solution of the algorithm approaches, at an exponential rate, the unique exact unknown solution of the B\'enard convection problem associated with the observed (finite dimensional projection of) velocity