Reconstruction of wide spectrum forcing in transport-diffusion and Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract: This article considers the problem of reconstructing unknown driving forces based on incomplete knowledge of the system and its state. This is studied in both a linear and nonlinear setting that is paradigmatic in geophysical fluid dynamics and various applications. Two algorithms are proposed to address this problem: one that iteratively reconstructs forcing and another that provides a continuous-time reconstruction. Convergence is shown to be guaranteed provided that observational resolution is sufficiently high and algorithmic parameters are properly tuned according to the prior information; these conditions are quantified precisely. The class of reconstructable forces identified here include those which are time-dependent and potentially inject energy at all length scales. This significantly expands upon the class of forces in previous studies, which could only accommodate those with band-limited spectra. The second algorithm moreover provides a conceptually streamlined approach that allows for a more straightforward analysis and simplified practical implementation.