On wellposedness and limiting behavior of generalized SQG equations

Abstract

We consider the two-dimensional generalized surface quasi-geostrophic equations in $\mathbb{R}^2$, given by \[\partial_t θ+u\cdot \nabla θ=0,\quad u=-\nabla^{\perp}Λ^{β-2}θ,\,β\in [1,2).\] When $β=1$, the equation defines the SQG equation and for $β>1$, it defines a family of more singular active scalar equations. We prove that if the interval of existence of the smooth solution to the generalized SQG equations for some $β_0\in[1,2)$ is $[0,T]$, then with the same initial data, the interval of existence of the generalized SQG equations for $β$ close to $β_0$ also contains $[0,T]$. To prove these results, we develop estimates for a conservation law with flux modified around the generalized SQG equations. Furthermore, we also prove some new commutator estimates with bounds uniformly bounded as $β\to 1$ that may be of independent interest.