Dynamics of Black Sea Circulation and Eddies
Summary
The Black Sea exhibits a complex circulation characterised by a cyclonic rim current flowing along its continental margin and by the frequent generation of mesoscale and submesoscale eddies. These eddies arise from instabilities in the rim current, wind forcing and interaction with irregular bathymetry, and play a central role in lateral and vertical transport of heat, nutrients and dissolved gases. Seasonal variations in surface heating and cooling lead to stratification changes, with wintertime cooling driving the formation of a cold intermediate layer (CIL) beneath a warmer surface. Wind stress curl modulates the strength of the rim current and gyres, while buoyancy fluxes influence the exchange between the oxic surface layer and the anoxic deep waters. Together, these processes regulate biogeochemical cycles, support regional fisheries and affect the resilience of the oxic–anoxic interface that separates oxygenated surface waters from deeper anoxic layers rich in hydrogen sulphide.
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Dynamics of Black Sea Circulation and Eddies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in dynamics of black sea circulation and eddies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gyre: A large-scale circular ocean current system driven by wind and the Earth’s rotation.
Eddy: A rotating parcel of water, ranging from tens to hundreds of kilometres, that detaches from the main current.
Rim Current: The cyclonic boundary current that circulates around the perimeter of the Black Sea basin.
Cold Intermediate Layer (CIL): A subsurface stratum of cold water formed by winter cooling, lying between warmer surface and deep layers.
Wind Stress Curl: The spatial variation in wind-induced surface stress that generates vertical motions and drives gyre circulations.
References
- Caspian Sea and Black Sea Response to Greenhouse Warming in a High‐Resolution Global Climate Model. Geophysical Research Letters (2021).
- Formation and changes of the Black Sea cold intermediate layer. Progress In Oceanography (2018).
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