Discrete models for atmospheric turbulence

In this talk we discuss a family of discrete models for atmospheric turbulence, often called point vortex models.
Point vortices provide an approximation of solutions to generalized surface quasi-geostrophic models, a family of fractional PDEs which interpolate between 2D Euler equations and the more irregular SQG equation.
We state some of its basic properties and see how variational methods and tools from probability theory together can help us to obtain more information about turbulence phenomena.
The content of this talk is based on work in collaboration with Marco Romito (Uni Pisa), the presentation tries to avoid technicalities and to be accessible to a mixed audience.