Stochastic geometric models with non-stationary spatial correlations in Lagrangian fluid flows (Q722001)

The authors obtain data-driven stochastic models of geophysical fluid dynamics with nonstationary spatial correlations representing the dynamical behaviour of oceanic currents. The paper is inspired by spatio-temporal observations from satellites of the spatial paths of objects drifting near the surface of the ocean in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ``Global Drifter Program''. The Lagrangian paths of these freely drifting instruments track the ocean currents -- the satellite readings of their positions approximate the motion of a fluid parcel as a curve parametrized by time. Three models are considered. The first one, in which the spatial correlations are time-independent, is taken from [\textit{D. D. Holm}, Proc. A, R. Soc. Lond. 471, No. 2176, Article ID 20140963, 19 p. (2015; Zbl 1371.35219)]. Two new models introduce two symmetry breaking mechanisms for which the spatial correlations may be advected by the flow. The models are obtained by the use of symmetry reduction of stochastic variational principles. The authors derive stochastic Hamiltonian systems, whose momentum maps, conservation laws, and Lie-Poisson bracket structures are used in the study of the stochastic models of geophysical fluid dynamics.