We study the generalised 2D surface quasi-geostrophic (SQG) equation, where the active scalar is given by a fractional power α of Laplacian applied to the stream function. This includes the 2D SQG and Euler equations as special cases. Using Poincaré’s successive approximation to higher α-derivatives of the active scalar, we derive a variational equation for describing perturbations in the generalized SQG equation. In particular, in the limit α → 0, an asymptotic equation is derived on a stretched time variable τ = αt, which unifies equations in the family near α = 0. The successive approximation is also discussed at the other extreme of the 2D Euler limit α = 2–0. Numerical experiments are presented for both limits. We consider whether the solution behaves in a more singular fashion, with more effective nonlinearity, when α is increased. Two competing effects are identified: the regularizing effect of a fractional inverse Laplacian (control by conservation) and cancellation by symmetry (nonlinearity depletion). Near α = 0 (complete depletion), the solution behaves in a more singular fashion as α increases. Near α = 2 (maximal control by conservation), the solution behave in a more singular fashion, as α decreases, suggesting that there may be some α in [0, 2] at which the solution behaves in the most singular manner. We also present some numerical results of the family for α = 0.5, 1, and 1.5. On the original time t, the H 1 norm of θ generally grows more rapidly with increasing α. However, on the new time τ, this order is reversed. On the other hand, contour patterns for different α appear to be similar at fixed τ, even though the norms are markedly different in magnitude. Finally, point-vortex systems for the generalized SQG family are discussed to shed light on the above problems of time scale
