A nonlinear optimal control problem for assimilation of surface data in navier-stokestype equations related to oceanography (Q4239754)

The problem is that of modelling of long waves propagating westward along the equator in the tropical Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This phenomenon is studied in an oceanic 3-dimensional domain \(\Omega\) extending 10 degrees North and South and of constant depth \(H,\) the curvature of the earth neglected. The zonal extension of \(\Omega\) is the greatest wavelength, and periodic boundary conditions are imposed on the eastern and western boundaries. The state variables are the deviation \(\delta {\mathbf u}\) from a known mean flow and the deviation \(\delta p\) from a known mean pressure, which satisfy equations of Navier-Stokes type. This is formulated as a control problem, where the control is the perturbation \(\delta f\) of the wind stress and the cost function undergoing minimization is the distance between the observed and computed pressures on a part of the boundary. Given suitable spaces for all functions, the author shows the existence of an optimal control, defines a penalized minimization problem and characterizes the penalized optimal control. The paper ends with indications on how to carry out the measurements of \(\delta {\mathbf u}\) and \(\delta p\) (satellite observations of the sea surface) and on computation of the penalized optimal controls.