Correlation between the intensity of tsunami in the Black Sea and the magnitude of underwater earthquakes

We perform the analysis of tsunami waves in the shelf zone of the Crimean peninsula generated by underwater earthquakes whose epicentres are located near the lower boundary of the continental slope. For this purpose, we use a one-dimensional nonlinear dissipative numerical model of long waves. The investigated distributions of the depth of the basin correspond to four points of the south coast of the Crimean peninsula. We use the empirical dependences of parameters of the sources of tsunami waves on the magnitude of the earthquake obtained earlier for the Pacific Ocean. It is shown that the height, vertical climb, and duration of tsunami waves increase with the magnitude of the earthquake. For equal magnitudes of the earthquake, the highest tsunamis on the south coast of the Crimea are observed between Alushta and Yalta. We also deduced a generalized regression dependence of the height of tsunami waves near the coast on the magnitude of the earthquake. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Analysis of the intensification of tsunami waves near the South Coast of Crimea

We perform the numerical analysis of the intensification of tsunami waves in the course of their propagation from the open part of the Black Sea to the shelf zone. For this purpose, we use a one-dimensional model of nonlinear long waves taking into account the effect of bottom friction. We study four profiles of the bottom corresponding to the south coast of the Crimean Peninsula and establish the predominant role of the bottom pattern and insignificant contribution of nonlinearity to the transformation of waves in the process of their propagation in the direction of the coast. Down to depths of 50 m, all changes in the height of waves are described by the Green law. For the evaluation of vertical run-up of waves, it is important to take into account nonlinear effects. The highest vertical run-ups of waves are observed in the parts of the shelf zone located near Yalta and Alushta. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Manifestations of water dynamics in the coastal zone in the field of breaking of wind waves

In the coastal zone, as a result of mixing of waters, it is difficult to identify turbulent phenomena with a spatial scale of 0.1–1 km accompanied by strong vertical flows according to the data of measuring temperature. On the basis of the data of direct measurements, it is shown that turbulent structures are well pronounced in the field of breaking of wind waves. We deduce empirical estimates of the response of the intensity of wave breaking to the magnitude of divergence of the current and develop a theoretical model of the influence of inhomogeneities of currents on wave breaking capable of describing the experimental data. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Turbulent diffusion of impurities in the ocean in the presence of internal waves

We study the influence of baroclinic tidal waves on the diffusion of an impurity spot in a continuously stratified fluid. The equation of turbulent diffusion is solved numerically by taking into account the wave currents. We establish the dependences of the characteristics of the diffusion process on parameters of baroclinic waves and the location of the impurity spot. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide in the coastal zone

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, we study internal waves generated by a barotropic tide in a two-layer ocean of variable depth taking into account the influence of the Coriolis force. Barotropic waves run over an extended unevenness of the bottom at an arbitrary angle. This unevenness is regarded as a model of the continental slope and shelf. We establish the dependences of the amplitudes of generated internal waves on the angle of incidence of the barotropic tide, topography of the bottom, and stratification. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Incidence of flexural gravitational waves on the line of contact of two floating ice plates of different thickness

We analyze the influence of a rift in an ice field on the propagation of flexural gravitational waves in a basin of finite constant depth. The ice cover is simulated by two floating semiinfinite elastic plates of different thickness. We studied the dependence of the amplitude coefficients of reflection and transmission of waves incident on the rift on the frequency of running waves, the thickness of ice on both sides of the rift, and the type of contact boundary conditions at the rift. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry, V. Malyshev     

Seiches in a circular basin of variable depth

Free waves (seiches) in a circular basin of variable depth are studied numerically within the framework of the linear theory of long waves taking into account the action of the Coriolis force. We determine the frequencies of axisymmetric and circular waves, study the structure of the modes of elevation of the free surface and wave velocities, and establish the dependences of the phase velocities of circular waves on the number of mode and wavelength. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

On the influence of a diurnal baroclinic tide on the diffusion of an impurity

We investigate the influence of baroclinic tidal waves on the diffusion of an impurity spot in a continuously stratified liquid. The equation of turbulent diffusion is solved numerically by taking into account the wave currents. We establish the dependences of the characteristics of the diffusion process on the parameters of the baroclinic wave and the location of the impurity spot. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of internal waves in the region of a bottom ridge with continuously varying height

Internal waves generated by a barotropic wave impinging on a bottom ridge with continuously varying height are studied within the framework of the linear theory of long waves. We consider the case where the diurnal tide travels at an arbitrary angle to the axis of the ridge located in the area of a geostrophic flow caused by tilting of the free sea surface and the interface of a two-layer ocean. We study the dependences of the amplitudes of internal waves on the velocity of the geostrophic flow, the direction of propagation of the barotropic tide, and the geometry of the ridge. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Evaluation of the influence of surface films on short wind waves and the characteristics of the boundary layer of the atmosphere

With the help of a combined model of wind and waves, we study the influence of films of surfactants on the spectrum of short wind waves and the parameters of the lowest layer of the atmosphere. It is shown that the films of surfactants decrease the roughness of the sea surface as a result of suppression of short wind waves, which decreases the coefficient of resistance of the sea surface and the coefficient of turbulent heat exchange. The maximum influence of films on the exchange coefficients is attained forU∼10 m/s. In this case, the relative decrements of the coefficients of resistance and turbulent heat exchange are equal to 15 and 9%, respectively. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev UDC 551.46     

Characteristics of the mixing effect of small-scale internal waves in the upper layer of the Black Sea according to the data of fine-structure sounding

A method of statistical separation of fine-structure fluctuations according to their origin is applied to the analysis of the characteristics of mixing in a layer located below the summer temperature minimum in the Black Sea. The simplification of the procedure of numerical evaluation of the coefficient of vertical wave exchange enabled us to perform the comprehensive fine-structure processing of the data of regular surveys of the Black Sea with an aim to determine the spatial distribution of the field intensity of small-scale internal waves and the intensity of mixing caused by these waves in the analyzed layer. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Investigation of transformations of barotropic tides in the coastal zone

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves, we perform the numerical investigation of transformations of a barotropic diurnal tide in the process of its motion from the deepwater region of the sea into the region of continental slope and shelf zone at any angle to the coast line. For a linear profile of the bottom of the continental slope and shelf, we establish dependences of the amplitudes and velocities of waves on the direction of propagation of the tidal wave and the latitude of the place. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Redistribution of momentum fluxes on the water-air interface

We present the results of investigation of the transformation of a momentum flux coming from the atmosphere into a water reservoir and establish the relationship between the surface velocity of the drift current and the dynamic velocity of wind. For the initial stage of the development of wind waves, we propose a dependence that enables one to determine the momentum flux spent for an increase in the intensity of waves via the momentum flux coming into the water reservoir from the wind. The behavior of the ratio of the momentum flux spent for the increase in the intensity of waves to the total momentum flux coming from the atmosphere into the water is studied depending on the dimensionless fetch and age of waves. In our analysis, we used both our own experimental data and the data available from the scientific literature. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of internal waves in a three-layer ocean

Within the framework of the linear theory of long waves taking into account the action of the Coriolis force, we solve the problem of generation of internal waves by a barotropic tide impinging on a bottom irregularity of the sea-ridge type. The cross section of the ridge is assumed to be rectangular and the stratification of the ocean is regarded as stepwise with two thermoclines (three-layer model). We study the dependences of the characteristics of generated waves on the parameters of stratification and the period of the impinging barotropic tide. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Experimental evaluation of the characteristics of vertical mixing in an oceanic thermohalocline on the basis of fine-structure spectra of advection, salt fingers, and small-scale internal waves

We describe a differential approach to the spectral composition of thin thermohaline inhomogeneities in the ocean depending on the mechanisms responsible for their generation and demonstrate the possibilities of this approach in getting realistic hydrophysical results. The statistical classification of fine-structure fluctuations according to their origin is performed on the basis of the joint analysis of the temperature, salinity, and density spectra computed in a section of the vertical profile where the variation of mean gradients of all three parameters is insignificant. On the basis of the constructed mean spectrum of wave elevations, we estimate the dissipative characteristics of the convection of salt fingers and small-scale internal waves. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Time variability of technogenic radioactivity in the Black and Mediterranean Seas

We analyse the time variability of the fields of Cs-137 concentration in the surface waters of the Black and Mediterranean Seas in 1986–1998. It is shown that more contaminated Black-Sea waters affect the levels of concentration of this radionuclide in the east part of the Mediterranean Sea. We also study the influence of atmospheric processes and water exchange through Bosporus on the radioecological situation in the east part of the Mediterranean Sea and its coastal area. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Mass transfer by nonlinear waves in a basin with floating broken ice

We study the influence of floating broken ice on the mean nonzero displacements of liquid particles in nonlinear running surface waves. The analysis is performed on the basis of a uniform asymptotic expansion (up to the quantities of the third order of smallness as compared with the potential of the velocity of motion of liquid in a basin of finite depth) obtained by the method of multiple scales. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Structure and kinematics of waters in the region of the Argentine Islands in the autumn of 1998

On the basis of the data of the complex oceanographic experiment carried out in the course of the second Ukrainian Antarctic expedition in March 1998, we study the structure and kinematics of waters in the region of the archipelago of Argentine Islands. The regularities of thermohaline stratification of waters are discovered. We determine the most important environmental parameters premoting the variability of hydrophysical fields on time scales varying from several days up to a week, analyse the data of actual observations over the currents, and estimate the relative contribtions of diurnal and semidiurnal tidal waves to the total dispersion of hydrophysical parameters of the environment. The residual currents are filtered out. We propose a hypothesis about the mechanism of their formation. Various types of tidal currents are revealed and the directions of propagation of diurnal and semidiurnal tidal waves are determined. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Generation of long barotropic waves by moving baric disturbances in a system of basins connected by a channel

We consider long barotropic waves in a system of two rectangular basins connected by a channel in the case where waves are generated by the moving region of disturbances of atmospheric pressure passing above one of the basins. By using a numerical model, we compute the characteristics of the wave process for various values of the parameters of this system. The results of numerical calculations are compared with the corresponding characteristics obtained for the case of a closed basin. We also analyze the distinctive features of long-wave processes induced in the presence of the channel. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev