Analysis of an operator splitting method in 4D-Var (Q2380923)

4D-Var is a method of estimating a set of parameters by optimizing the fit between the solution of a model and a set of observations which the model is meant to predict. 4D-Var is typically an optimal control problem and the parameters are often constrained by evolution differential operators. To solve the 4D-Var, one often needs to compute the gradient and the Hessian of a functional. For this purpose, a first order and a second order adjoint model must be solved. Splitting methods are often used in solving these complicated models in order to break the problem into smaller subproblems. In the present paper, a 4D-Var in functional setting is presented and the symmetric operator splitting methods are discussed. The Marchuk-Strang multicomponent operator splitting is applied to the 4DVar. This method gives rise to a second order splitting method. Convergence analysis for the splitting method is given.