Boussinesq equations in three dimensional thin domains and the corresponding two dimensional limit (Q2454933)

The paper studies the solutions of the three dimensional Boussinesq equations in thin domains. The reasoning behind this study is the possibility of using these solutions to describe the fluid dynamics on the surface of planets (with special interest to Earth). Since, in general, the fluid on a planet resides in a thin layer on the surface, the thin layer Boussinesq equations are applied here. The authors start with the three dimensional initial boundary value problem and prove that the averages in the vertical directions of the weak solution converges (as the thickness approaches zero) to the weal solution of a two dimensional initial boundary value problem (on the planet's surface). The problem is hence simplified and possibly previously obtained 2D limit models could be used as viable approximations to the 3D problem.