The Black Sea Deep Current Velocities Estimated from the Data of Argo Profiling Floats

N.V. Markova✉, A.V. Bagaev

Marine Hydrophysical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sevastopol, Russian Federation

✉ e-mail: n.v.markova@mail.rum

Abstract

Considering scarce available data on the velocity field in the deep layers of the Black Sea, it is important to contribute by deriving the velocity vectors from indirect sources. The Lagrangian velocity vectors of the Black Sea currents on the depths below the main pycnocline are calculated using the data on the trajectories and actual profile depths of the Argo profiling drifters in 2005-2015. The values and directions of the calculated vectors in the layers 350 – 600, 600 – 800, 800 – 1200 and 1200 – 1600 m are analyzed. The obtained results are statistically evaluated. It is shown that the prevailing number (88%) of the modules of the calculated current velocity vectors is within the range 1 – 20 cm/s. The currents’ velocity average for the whole period of measurements, is about 4 cm/s in the layers 350 – 600 and 600 – 800 m, approximately 6 cm/s in the 800 – 1200 m layer and 3.5 cm/s in the 1200 – 1600 m layer. The mean current velocities from the whole data access are higher in January – March, whereas the lowest ones fall on June – October. On the background of general cyclonic circulation the meso-scale eddy structures on the specified depths are revealed. A discussion is presented on the available approaches to increase the precision and credibility of the obtained velocities magnitude and direction.

Keywords

the Black Sea, deepwater circulation, current velocity, Argo float

For citation

Markova, N.V. and Bagaev, A.V., 2016. The Black Sea Deep Current Velocities Estimated from the Data of Argo Profiling Floats. Physical Oceanography, (3), pp. 23-35. doi:10.22449/1573-160X-2016-3-23-35

DOI

10.22449/1573-160X-2016-3-23-35

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