Distribution of artificial radionuclides in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea in 1989–1990

The result of research into the distribution of artificial radionuclides of¹³⁷Cs in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are reported. The data obtained permits consideration of the peculiarities of distribution of this radionuclide in the areas under investigation. The contribution of the Chernobyl radiocaesium to the total radioactivity of these water areas is estimated.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

A quasi-three-dimensional numerical prediction model of salinity structure in Bohai Sea and Huanghai Sea

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Oscillating Quaternary water levels of the Marmara Sea and vigorous outflow into the Aegean Sea from the Marmara Sea–Black Sea drainage corridor

Detailed interpretation of single-channel air-gun and deep-tow boomer profiles demonstrates that the Marmara Sea, Turkey, experienced small-amplitude (∼70 m) fluctuations in sea level during the later Quaternary, limited in magnitude by the sill depth of the Strait of Dardanelles. Moderate subsidence along the southern shelf and Quaternary glacio-eustatic sea-level variations created several stacked deltaic successions, separated by major shelf-crossing unconformities, which developed during the transitions from global glacial to interglacial periods. Near the Strait of Dardanelles, a series of sand-prone deposits are identified beneath an uppermost (Holocene) transparent mud drape. The sandy deposits thicken into mounds with the morphology and cross-sectional geometries of barrier islands, sand waves, and current-generated marine bars. All cross-stratification indicates unidirectional flow towards the Dardanelles prior to the deposition of the transparent drape which began ∼7000 years BP, in strong support of the notion that the Marmara Sea flowed westwards into the Aegean Sea through the Dardanelles at times of deglaciation in northern Europe. The global sea-level curve shows that, at ∼11,000 and ∼9500 years BP, sea level rose to the sill depths of the Straits of Dardanelles and Bosphorus, respectively. The effect from ∼11,000 to ∼9500 years BP was seawater incursion into the Marmara Sea, drowning and formation of algal-serpulid bioherms atop lowstand barrier islands, and transgression of shelves and lowstand deltas. At ∼9500 years BP, glacial meltwater temporarily stored in the Black Sea lake, developed into a vigorous southward flow toward the Aegean Sea, forming west-directed sandy bedforms in the western Marmara Sea and initiating deposition of sapropel S1 in the Aegean Sea. This strong outflow persisted until ∼7000 years BP, after which a mud drape began to accumulate in the Marmara Sea and euryhaline Mediterranean mollusks successfully migrated into a progressively more saline Black Sea where sapropel deposition began. Most eastern Mediterranean sapropels from S1 to S11 appear to correlate with periods of rising sea level and breaching, or near-breaching, of the Bosphorus sill. These events are believed to coincide with times of vigorous outflow of low-salinity (?fresh) surface waters transiting the Black Sea–Marmara Sea corridor, and ultimately derived from melting of northern European ice sheets.     

The study of productivity in the Bohai Sea——Ⅱ. Primary productivity and estimation of potential fish catch

-On the basis of the data obtained from the surveys in the Bohai Sea during 1982-1983, this paper analysed and discussed the distribution and seasonal variation of primary productivity in the Bohai Sea, and the correlations between the primary productivity and environmental factors. The organic carbon production and prospect of fishery production in the waters of this sea are estimated. It is shown that, there exists production patential in the Bohai Sea, the primary production is 112 gC/ (m2 ?a)the production of organic carbon being 10 million ton per year, the fishery yields 1 million ton and the maximum catch of sea products 0. 5 million ton. The results of the investigation can serve as the basic data for the exploitation, utilization and management of the fishery resources in the Bohai Sea.     

The size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity in the Bering Sea during the summer of 2003

1Introduction Thephytoplanktonistheprimaryproducerofor- ganicsubstancesintheoceanandplaysanimportant roleinthesubstancecycleandenergyconversionof marineecosystem.Chlorophyllaconcentration(Chla) isanimportantindexmanifestingthelightenergy-au- totrophicbiomassinthesea.Primaryproductivityre- flectstheabilitytoconvertinorganiccarbonintoor- ganiccarbonbythephytoplanktonintheocean.Both Chlaandprimaryproductivityaretheimportantcon-tentsbeingstudiedinthemarineecosystemaswellas theimportantfoundationa…     

A three-layer model for the thermal structure in the Huanghai Sea

A one-dimentional three-layer model for the thermal structure in the Huanghai Sea is presented in this study, me model consists of the upper mixed layer caused by heating and wind mixing, the lower mixed layer driven by tidal mixing, and the thermocline with certain thickness. The entrainment velocities of the upper and lower layers are obtained respectively. The results show that the model is capable of describing the development and decline processes of the seasonal thermocline in the Huanghai Sea, simulating successfully the Huanghai Sea Cold Water Mass, the nearshore front and surface cold water off North Jiangsu and explaining reasonably their formation mechanisms as well as the strong thermocline off Qingdao. It is suggested that the tidal mixing plays key role in the formation of the nearshore front off North Jiangsu and the strong thermocline off Qingdao. The wind mixing and the tidal mixing make the lower layer water with high nutrients go up to the upper layer. This physical process may be sig     

Characteristics of nitrogen forms in the southern Huanghai Sea surface sediments

The distributions of different forms of nitrogen in the surface sediments of the southern Huanghai Sea are different and affected by various factors. The contents of IEF-N, SOEF-N and TN gradually decrease eastward, and those of SAEF-N northward, while those of WAEF-N westward. Around the seaport of the old Huanghe (Yellow) River, the contents of both SOEF-N and TN are the highest. Among all the factors, the content of fine sediment is the predominant factor to affect the distributions of different forms of nitrogen. The contents of IEF-N, SOEF-N, and TN have visibly positive correlation with the content of f‘me sediments, and the correlative coefficient is 0.68, 0.58 and 0.71 respectively, showing that the contents of the three forms of nitrogen increase with those of f-me sediments. The content of WAEF-N is related to that of fine sediments to a certain extent, with a correlative coefficient of 0.35; while the content of SAEF-N is not related to that of fine sediments, showing that the content of SAEF-N is not controlled by fine grain-size fractions of sediments. In addition, the distributions of different forms of nitrogen are also interacted one another, and the contents of IEF-N and SOEF-N are obviously affected by TN, while those of inorganic nitrogen (WAEF-N, SAEF-N and IEF-N) are not affected by SOEF-N and TN obviously, although they are interacted each other.     

Late Glacial–Holocene ecostratigraphy of the south-eastern Aegean Sea, based on plankton and pollen assemblages

Quantitative analyses of coccolithophores, planktonic foraminifers, dinoflagellate cysts and pollen assemblages were carried out on shallow (NS-14) and deeper (NS-40) sediment cores from the south-eastern Aegean Sea. Nine coccolithophore (ACE 1–9) and nine planktonic foraminifer (APFE 1–9) ecozones, correlated with dinoflagellate cyst evidence, have been defined for the last ~14.5 cal. ka. Additionally, eight pollen assemblage zones (PAZ 1–8) have been recognised and correlated with the plankton ecozones. Although generally consistent with existing schemes for the central and eastern Mediterranean, the established high-resolution ecostratigraphy has led to an expanded palaeoecological reconstruction of the Late Glacial–Holocene archive in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, defining two warm and humid phases at 9.3–8.6 and 7.6–6.4 cal. ka b.p., associated with the deposition of the early Holocene sapropel S1, and a third one between 5.2 and 4.2 cal. ka b.p. The high sedimentation rates which characterise the study area enabled the detection of even minor and brief climatic events in the Aegean Sea during S1 deposition times. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Population dynamics of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi and its impact on the zooplankton in the coastal regions of the Black Sea of the Crimean coast in 2004–2008

The abundance, biomasses, and population structure of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi were monitored in the coastal waters of the northern part of the Black Sea (Sevastopol Bay and the adjacent continental shelf regions) in 2004–2008. The abundance and species composition of the comb jelly’s food in the sea were obtained along with experimental data on the digestion time. Based upon these data, the feeding intensity of the ctenophore in situ was estimated. This information was used to calculate the predatory impact of the comb jelly population on certain groups of forage organisms and the forage zooplankton community as a whole. The predatory impact of the M. leidyi population on the bivalve veligers was the highest (up to 90% of the abundance a day) compared to the Copepoda and Cladocera (30% and 40%, respectively). In the summers of 2004–2008, the daily consumption rates of the zooplankton by the ctenophore population in the shelf zone and in the bay were similar to each other: up to 15% and 12% of the abundance a day, respectively. The highest pressure of the ctenophore upon the zooplankton was observed in 2004 and 2008, when M. leidyi was especially abundant in the plankton for a long time.     

A model study on carbon cycle and phytoplankton dynamical processes in the Bohai Sea

The carbon cycle of lower trophic level in the Bohai Sea is studied with a three-dimensional biological and physical coupled model. The influences of the processes (including horizontal advection, river nutrient load, active transport etc. ) on the phytoplankton biomass and its evolution are estimated. The Bohai Sea is a weak sink of the CO2 in the atmosphere. During the cycle, 13.7% of the gross production of the phytoplankton enter the higher trophic level and 76.8 % of it are consumed by the respiration itself. The nutrient reproduction comes mainly from the internal biogeochemical loop and the rem-ineralization is an important mechanism of the nutrient transfer from organic form to inorganic. Horizontal advection decreases the total biomass and the eutrophication in some sea areas. Change in the nutrient load of a river can only adjust the local system near its estuary. Controlling the input of the nutrient, which limits the alga growth, can be very useful in lessening the phytoplankton biomass.     

A two-layers model for the summer circulation of the East China Sea

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A study of numerical model equations of circulations in East China Sea

Recently many authors have attepmted to model circulations in East China Sea by numerical means, for example, Xi et al^1),2). (henceforth Ref.[1] is referred to as A and[2] as B respectively), Yuan et al. and Chio. We had raised questions in regard to the correctness of the governing equations used in A, as well as their choice of boundary conditions. Comparing numerical solution of A with that of B which employed a correct form of governing equations (but with an incorrect value for the bottom friction coefficient), B asserted that the governing equations used in A were correct. It is, therefore, appropriate to have a discussion on the formulation of proper equations.     

Structure of plankton phytocoenoses in the shelf waters of the northeastern Black Sea during the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Emiliania huxleyi</Emphasis> bloom in 2002–2005

It is shown that, in 2002–2005, the mass development of the coccolithofore Emiliania huxleyi on the Gelendzhik shelf occurred annually and in May–June its abundance reached 1.5 × 10⁶ cells/l. In 2004–2005, the bloom of E. huxleyi was accompanied by a mass development of the diatom alga Chaetoceros subtilis var. abnormis f. simplex (0.6–0.9 × 10⁶ cells/l); for the first time, it was registered as a dominating form of the Black Sea phytoplankton. Small flagellates and picoplankton algae played a noticeable role in the phytoplankton throughout the entire period of the studies. Meanwhile, in the early summer period, the bulk of the biomass consisted of coccolithophores (50–60%), while, in the late summer period, diatomaceous algae dominated (50–70%). Among the ecological factors that favor the coccolithophore development one may note the microstratification of the upper mixed layer at a high illumination level and high temperature in the surface waters (18–21°C). The terrigenous runoff during the rainy period had a negative effect on the E. huxleyi development, while storms dispersed the population over the upper mixed layer. The wind-induced near-shore upwelling stimulated the development of diatoms.     

Reanalysis of seasonal and interannual variability of Black Sea fields for 1993–2012

A retrospective analysis has been done for the hydrophysical fields of the Black Sea for 1993–2012 with the assimilation of undisturbed monthly average profiles of temperature and salinity that were obtained by using an original procedure of joint processing of satellite altimetry and rare hydrological observations. The accuracy of the reconstructed fields of temperature and salinity of the Black Sea is evaluated by comparison with the data of sounding from the hydrological stations and the Argo floats. A comparative analysis is performed for the integral characteristics of the fields of temperature, salinity, and kinetic energy with the same characteristics of the reanalysis for 1992–2012 that assimilated the average annual profiles of temperature and salinity, surface temperature and altimetry level of the sea after being adjusted with respect to climate seasonal variability. The proposed procedure of the reanalysis execution allows a more precise reconstruction of the interannual variability of temperature and salinity stratification in the main pycnocline. The correlation between the annual and seasonal variability of the eddy of the wind friction tangential stress and the average kinetic energy at the levels is revealed.     

A 3-dimensional baroclinic circulation model of the South China Sea

1 INTRODUCTIONThe SoUth China Sea (SCS) is the largest coastal sea of China. It is of great interestto researchers because of its abundant resources and geographical location. The SCS is inthe tropicaI and sub-tropical monsoon wind zone of the north-western Pacific and isSurrounded by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. lt has a complicatedRecclved 2 l March 200ltoPograPhy and is cormected with the Peeific through thc Bashi Channel which has a dePthof over 3…     

The interannual variability of thermal atmospheric conditions in the northeastern part of the Black Sea (1935–2007)

A scheme is proposed to estimate actual seasons within the limits of a closed annual cycle. The winter and summer modifications of actual seasons, or base periods, are determined according to the position of three-month intervals with extreme (within the annual cycle) average temperatures on the calendar scale of the year. The spring and autumn modifications of seasons are introduced as intervals between the base periods. This model takes into account the episodes when relatively cold or warm airflows influence the structure of the Black Sea waters more flexibly than the standard branch of the annual cycle into seasons can do. In this alternative model, the seasons acquire the properties that are not inherent in their calendar analogues.     

A coupled ice-ocean model for the Bohai Sea I. Study on model and parameter

1 IntroductionAs an important compartment of global cli-mate system, the development and variation ofsea ice directly affect the global atmosphere andocean environment, especially the deep watersformation and circulation. Therefore, it be-comes one of the keys of the global climatestudy to explore the coupling physical processof sea ice to atmosphere and ocean in the cli-mate system and to set up the global coupledairiceocean system. The studies on the in-teraction of iceocean and its coupled…     

Natural air–sea flux of CO2 in simulations of the NASA-GISS climate model: Sensitivity to the physical ocean model formulation

Results from twin control simulations of the preindustrial CO₂ gas exchange (natural flux of CO₂) between the ocean and the atmosphere are presented here using the NASA-GISS climate model, in which the same atmospheric component (modelE2) is coupled to two different ocean models, the Russell ocean model and HYCOM. Both incarnations of the GISS climate model are also coupled to the same ocean biogeochemistry module (NOBM) which estimates prognostic distributions for biotic and abiotic fields that influence the air–sea flux of CO₂. Model intercomparison is carried out at equilibrium conditions and model differences are contrasted with biases from present day climatologies. Although the models agree on the spatial patterns of the air–sea flux of CO₂, they disagree on the strength of the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean sinks mainly because of kinematic (winds) and chemistry (pCO₂) differences rather than thermodynamic (SST) ones. Biology/chemistry dissimilarities in the models stem from the different parameterizations of advective and diffusive processes, such as overturning, mixing and horizontal tracer advection and to a lesser degree from parameterizations of biogeochemical processes such as gravitational settling and sinking. The global meridional overturning circulation illustrates much of the different behavior of the biological pump in the two models, together with differences in mixed layer depth which are responsible for different SST, DIC and nutrient distributions in the two models and consequently different atmospheric feedbacks (in the wind, net heat and freshwater fluxes into the ocean).     

Assessment of Pollution of the Kerch Strait and Adjacent Black Sea Area Based on Field Measurements of 2019–2020

Oceanology - The paper presents the results of an analysis of the main pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides, detergents, hydrocarbons) in water, suspended particulate matter, and bottom sediments,...