On the effect of fast rotation and vertical viscosity on the lifespan of the $3D$ primitive equations

TL;DR

This paper investigates how fast rotation and vertical viscosity influence the lifespan of solutions to the 3D primitive equations, establishing local and extended well-posedness results with analytic initial data and small data global existence in 2D.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the lifespan extension of solutions under fast rotation and vertical viscosity, with analytic regularity and small data conditions.

Findings

Solutions become analytic in all variables over time.

Fast rotation can prolong solution existence with well-prepared data.

Global well-posedness in 2D for small initial data.

Abstract

We study the effect of the fast rotation and vertical viscosity on the lifespan of solutions to the three-dimensional primitive equations (also known as the hydrostatic Navier-Stokes equations) with impermeable and stress-free boundary conditions. Firstly, for a short time interval, independent of the rate of rotation $|\Omega|$, we establish the local well-posedness of solutions with initial data that is analytic in the horizontal variables and only $L^2$ in the vertical variable. Moreover, it is shown that the solutions immediately become analytic in all the variables with increasing-in-time (at least linearly) radius of analyticity in the vertical variable for as long as the solutions exist. On the other hand, the radius of analyticity in the horizontal variables might decrease with time, but as long as it remains positive the solution exists. Secondly, with fast rotation, i.e., large $|\Omega|$, we show that the existence time of the solution can be prolonged, with "well-prepared" initial data. Finally, in the case of two spatial dimensions with $\Omega=0$, we establish the global well-posedness provided that the initial data is small enough. The smallness condition on the initial data depends on the vertical viscosity and the initial radius of analyticity in the horizontal variables.