A toy model for damped water waves

We consider a toy model for a damped water waves system in a domain [Formula: see text]. The toy model is based on the paradifferential formulation of the water waves system derived in the work of Alazard–Burq–Zuily [On the water-waves equations with surface tension, Duke Math. J. 158 (2011) 413–499]. The form of damping we consider is a modified sponge layer proposed for the [Formula: see text] water waves system by Clamond et al. in [An efficient model for three-dimensional surface wave simulations. Part II: Generation and absorption, J. Comput. Phys. 205 (2005) 686–705]. We show that, in the case of small Cauchy data, solutions to the toy model exhibit a quadratic lifespan. This is done via proving energy estimates with Klainerman vector fields.