Abstract

The quasigeostrophic two-layer (QS2L) system models the dynamic evolution of two interconnected potential vorticities, each of which is governed by an active scalar equation. These vorticities are linked through a distinctive combination of their respective stream functions, which can be loosely characterized as a parametrized blend of both Euler and shallow-water stream functions.

We study (QS2L) in two directions: First, we prove the existence and uniqueness of global weak solutions in the class of Yudovich, that is when the initial vorticities are only bounded and Lebesgue-integrable. The uniqueness is obtained as a consequence of a stability analysis of the flow-maps associated with the two vorticities. This approach replaces the relative energy method and allows us to surmount the absence of a velocity formulation for (QS2L). Second, we show how to construct $m$-fold time-periodic solutions bifurcating from two arbitrary distinct initial discs rotating with the same angular velocity. This is achieved provided that the number of symmetry $m$ is large enough, or for any symmetry $m\in {\mathbb{N}}^{\ast }$ as long as one of the initial radii of the discs does not belong to some set that contains, at most, a finite number of elements. Due to its multilayer structure, it is essential to emphasize that the bifurcation diagram exhibits a two-dimensional pattern. Upon analysis, it reveals some similarities with the scheme accomplished for the doubly connected V-states of the Euler and shallow-water equations. However, the coupling between the equations gives rise to several difficulties in various stages of the proof when applying the Crandall–Rabinowitz theorem. To address this challenge, we conduct a careful analysis of the coupling between the kernels associated with the Euler and shallow-water equations.

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