Synoptic Conditions for Storm Formation in the Black Sea in November 2023, and Hydrometeorological Monitoring at the Stationary Oceanographic Platform

O. A. Shkaberda1, 2, ✉, A. V. Garmashov1, Yu. N. Toloknov1, A. I. Korovushkin1, L. N. Vasilevskaya3

1 Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS, Sevastopol, Russian Federation

2 Military Innovation Technopolis “Era”

3 Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation

✉ e-mail: olg3213@yandex.ru

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the circulation conditions for the formation and development of an extreme storm in the Black Sea in November 2023, as well as the dynamics of the storm process, based on the hydrometeorological monitoring data obtained at the Black Sea hydrophysical subsatellite polygon of Marine Hydrophysical Institute, RAS.

Methods and Results. The characteristics of the Black Sea cyclone (25–27 November 2023), and the factors that conditioned its intensive development were investigated using GFS, ICON (7-km resolution), and GEM synoptic charts and barotropic topography (Wetter3.de). Besides, aerological sounding data and archival instrumental observations were also applied. It is established that the cyclone was an extratropical one with signs of explosive cyclogenesis (a deepening of 25 hPa per day). The following key intensification factors were revealed: thermodynamic ones (frontal zone of the baric trough, high-altitude frontal zone, divergence of flows, temperature contrast in the 500–1000 hPa layer); dynamic ones (jet stream with vertical velocity gradient, inter-latitudinal temperature gradient, high pressure gradient, coincidence of wind directions near the ground and at altitude). It has been shown that climate warming and rising Black Sea water temperatures enhance evaporation that, in its turn, increases the probability of extreme cyclones.

Conclusions. A rather rare combination of large-scale and synoptic atmospheric processes over the Black and Aegean seas in late November 2023 resulted in the formation of a deep explosive extratropical cyclone and the development of an extreme Black Sea storm. Continuous automated measurements performed at the stationary oceanographic platform of the Black Sea hydrophysical subsatellite polygon (MHI RAS) under strong and hurricane-force wind speeds (up to 40 m/s) and wave heights (up to 7.14 m) made it possible to track the storm dynamics in greater detail than standard hydrometeorological observations can provide. The experimental data obtained under extreme storm conditions are of practical significance and will be useful for various applied studies.

Keywords

storm, wave recorder, extreme waves, extreme wind, wind waves, Black Sea, water temperature, air temperature

Acknowledgements

The study was carried out within the framework of the state assignment theme of FSBSI FRC MHI (FNNN‑2024‑0014) and supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, project No. FZNS‑2024‑0037.

About the authors

Olga A. Shkaberda, Leading Engineer, Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS (2 Kapitanskaya Str., Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), Researcher, Research Department of Military Innovation Technopolis ERA (41 Pionersky Ave., Anapa, Anapa District, Krasnodar Region, 353456, Russian Federation), CSc. (Geogr.), SPIN-code: 4373-2798, olg3213@yandex.ru

Anton V. Garmashov, Senior Researcher, Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS (2 Kapitanskaya Str., Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), CSc. (Geogr.), ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4412-2483, ResearcherID: P-4155-2017, SPIN-code: 8941-9305, ant.gar@mail.ru

Yuri N. Toloknov, Junior Researcher, Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS (2 Kapitanskaya Str., Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), Web of Science ResearcherID: AAC-7582-2022, Scopus Author ID: 6506442243, SPIN-code: 4535-6282, toloknov@mhi-ras.ru

Alexey I. Korovushkin, Leading Research Engineer, Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS (2 Kapitanskaya Str., Sevastopol, 299011, Russian Federation), Scopus Author ID: 6508071074, SPIN-code: 3419-1433, korovushkin@mhi-ras.ru

Lyubov N. Vasilevskaya, Associate Professor of the Department of Earth Sciences, School of Ocean Studies, Far Eastern Federal University (10 Ayaks Settlement, Russky Island, Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai, 690922, Russian Federation), CSc. (Geogr.), Scopus Author ID: 55374958100, SPIN-code: 7271-1037, vasilevskaya.ln@dvfu.ru

Original russian text

Original Russian Text © The Authors, 2026, published in MORSKOY GIDROFIZICHESKIY ZHURNAL, Vol. 42, Iss. 1, pp. 85–100 (2026)

For citation

Shkaberda, O.A., Garmashov, A.V., Toloknov, Yu.N., Korovushkin, A.I. and Vasilevskaya, L.N., 2026. Synoptic Conditions for Storm Formation in the Black Sea in November 2023, and Hydrometeorological Monitoring at the Stationary Oceanographic Platform. Physical Oceanography, 33(1), pp. 78-93.

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