Purpose. The article is purposed at studying climatic fluctuations of the Azov Sea level on the scales of mesoscale and synoptic variability.

Methods and Results. Hourly sea level rises in 1979–2020 obtained by the methods of numerical modeling using the coupled hydrodynamic (ADCIRC) and wave (MIKE 21 SW) models constitute the initial data for the analysis. The basic harmonics of sea level oscillations in the ranges of mesoscale and synoptic variability were determined, and spatial and seasonal characteristics of the oscillations were assessed.

Conclusions. Main sea level oscillations in the ranges of synoptic and mesoscale variability are concentrated in the following periods (within a day): 0.5; 1; 1.8–2.5; 3–5; 5.5–7; 8.5–11; 12.5–13.5; 14.5–17. Sea level fluctuations with the periods exceeding two days have a form of a uninodal seiche whose amplitude maxima are in the coastal zone of two opposite areas: in the southwest of the sea (along the Arabat Spit) and in the northeast region (from the Yasenskaya to the Belosarayskaya spits). The seiche central line runs conventionally from the Temryuk Bay through the sea center to the bay between the Obitochnaya and the Berdyansk spits. In the case of semi-diurnal variations, the central line of fluctuations runs from the middle of the Arabat Spit through the sea center to the Dolgaya Spit. The level fluctuations with the periods exceeding two days are observed mainly in spring and autumn, namely from March to April and from September to November. Diurnal variations are virtually independent of the season. Semi-diurnal harmonics are most pronounced in spring and autumn, and weaken considerably in the summer months. The sea level fluctuations and the zonal component of wind speed have high coherence coefficients over the entire range of frequency-time variability. The relationship between sea level fluctuations and the meridional component of wind speed is manifested mainly in the diurnal and semidiurnal cycles.