North Brazil Current: Variability, stability and transport of waters

On the basis of the data of thein situ measurements of current velocities and other basic hydrophysical parameters (temperature and salinity) performed in the course of Cruise 41 of the R/VAkademik Vernadsky, we analyze the variability and stability of the North Brazil Current in winter. We also study the possibility of the influence of the baroclinic component of the horizontal drop of hydrostatic pressure on the vertical profile of the current velocity and estimate the intensity of the transport of waters. 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     

Effect of the flow conditions on the metrological characteristics of a contact acoustic current meter

We discuss the results of metrological testing of a four-base acoustic current meter performed in a hydrodynamic basin, consider methodological problems encountered in the process of measurements and data processing, and present the experimental dependences of the systematic and random components of the measurement errors on the velocity and direction of the flow. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Computational algorithm for the evaluation of inclinations of the level in the problems of the dynamics of basins

We develop a method for the evaluation of inclinations of the level, which enables one to find them with high accuracy. The reliability of this method is tested by comparing the numerical solutions for inclinations of the level with analytic expressions. It is shown that the system of coupled equations for inclinations of the level can be decomposed into two independent equations with sufficiently high accuracy. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

North Brazil current: vertical structure

On the basis of the data ofin situ measurements of the velocities of currents and basic hydrophysical parameters (such as temperature and salinity) carried out during Cruise 41 of the R/VAkademik Vernadsky, we analyze the structure of the North Brazil Current near the continental slope and in the equatorial abyssal part of the ocean in winter, establish the regularities of changes in the current velocity with depth, and compare the structures of the North Brazil and Guiana Currents. 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     

Generation of geostrophic vortices caused by displacements of a part of the bottom of a basin

Within the framework of the general linear statement of the problem, we determine the conditions of generation of a geostrophic current in a layer of uniform rotating fluid for small displacements of the bottom of a basin. We deduce an equation relating the equilibrium shape of the surface of the fluid with residual deformations of the bottom and find its general solution. It is shown that the geostrophic current is generated only in the presence of residual deformations. We present numerical estimates of the intensity of the generated geostrophic formation for a model of motion of the bottom. The investigated mechanism of generation of geostrophic vortex fields is especially efficient in the shelf zone of the ocean. 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     

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     

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     

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     

Laser diagnostics of the composition and salinity of mineralized waters

We study the possibilities of the method of laser diagnostics of the composition of multicomponent electrolytic solutions. In our experiments, we used a four-mirror phase-retarded interferometer operating at three wavelengths from the visible range. For three-component solutions of chloride salts, we determined partial sensitivities of the measuring system to changes in the concentrations of each electrolyte for each of the indicated wavelengths. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Trajectory and drift velocity of a sounding instrument in the field of nonuniform currents

We present a method for the determination of the trajectory of a sounding instrument and its drift velocity in the field of currents nonuniform in depth and develop special software for IBM/PC compatible computers. The proposed method and software are checked by using the well-known analytic solution of a similar problem given by Academician A. N. Krylov. We also consider some special examples of application of the developed method to the processing of the data of an OLT profilometer. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

A model of the dynamics of the ecosystem of the Sea of Azov

We use many-year archival observations of hydrologic and hydrobiologic state of the Sea of Azov for the identification of the structure of a model of its ecosystem. The ecosystem model, supplemented with expert estimates of bioresource consumption (fish reserve), contamination level, and possible ecologic fines for violation of the sea natural state, is formalized by the method of system dynamics. Hereat, the major part of influence functions is found in terms of observational data with application of self-organization algorithms. We also present the results of simulated experiments with the model of the ecosystem, which enable us to analyse scenarios of its behaviour under the influence of various external factors (wind, river discharge, water exchange with the Black Sea, etc.). Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Spectrophotometric and iodometric methods for the detection of hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea: Comparison of the results of analysis

We discuss the results of analysis of published data and field and laboratory investigations aimed at the solution of the problem of comparabilityof the results of detection of hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea by spectrophotometric and iodometric methods. We show that the reproducibility of the results of spectrophotometric analysis is higher than hat of the iodometric method only in the case where the content of sulfide in a sample is less than 10–30 μMl⁻¹. When larger concentrations are involved, the traditional iodometric analysis proves to be the most precise and reliable method for the detection of hydrogen sulfide in the Black-Sea waters. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Diffusion in the ocean with diffusion coefficient depending on the scale and concentration of impurities

We solve a nonlinear problem of diffusion from a concentrated source in a moving medium with diffusion coefficient depending on the scale of the phenomenon, time, and the concentration of impurities. We obtain a family of exact solutions of this problem, which can be regarded as a generalization of the class of linear problems of diffusion considered earlier for the conditions of the ocean and atmosphere by Roberts, Ozmidov, Obukhov,et al. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev.     

Rotation of orbital currents in the trains of internal solitons in the ocean

We analyze the results of measurements of currents in the trains of internal solitons on the New-York shelf of the Atlantic Ocean performed in the course of the Joint US/Russia Internal Wave Remote Sensing Experiment (JUSREX). It was discovered that the thermocline is characterized by an almost monotonic anticyclonic variation of the direction of orbital currents in the trains of solitons but the direction of waves in each train is practically constant. As a rule, the current significantly deviates to the left from the direction of waves in the leading soliton and approaches the indicated direction in the rear solitons of the train. The angular rotation current velocity corresponded to periods varying within the range 12–24h and, on the average, was close to the local inertial period. It is shown that this rotation cannot be caused by the distorting influence of advection of background shear currents but, most likely, is connected with the unknown properties of internal solitons in the rotating ocean. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Reconstruction of the seasonal climate of the Black Sea on the basis of available hydrological data

We analyze the seasonal variability of the climatic hydrophysical fields of the Black Sea reporduced in three numerical experiments carried out according to the model of circulation. The numerical predictions are performed for a period of 12.5 yr on the basis of the hydrological data accumulated in 1983–1995. The monthly average climatic fields of the current speed are reconstructed according to the data on the climatic fields of temperature and salinity by the method of hydrodynamic adaptation (standard). It is shown that, in prognostic calculations, the seasonal variability of temperature and salinity is qualitatively close to the “standard” dependence. At the same time, the quantitative difference between the climatic behavior of the model and the standard dependence may be significant. The annual cycle of the currents is characterized by the intensification of the Main Black-Sea Current in winter. The structure of the hydrophysical fields of the sea in the model becomes much more realistic if it is based on the actual hydrological data. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Formation of a circulation in the quasiisopycnic model of the Black Sea taking into account the stochastic nature of the wind stress

We discuss the results of numerical experiments carried out within the framework of a new version of the quasiisopycnic model of the Black Sea [1, 2]. We take into account the stochasticity of the wind stress, vertical shift of the flow velocity in the upper quasihomogeneous layer, and diapycnic mixing. We generalize the procedure of “convective adjustment,” which enables us to consider the propagation and transformation of waters of the Sea of Marmara. It is shown that the consideration of these factors enables one to determine the structure and seasonal variability of hydrothermodynamic fields in the sea more correctly. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev     

Relationship between the depth of visibility of Secchi disk and biooptical characteristics of the Black-Sea waters

We present the parameters of empirical relationships between the depth of visibility of Secchi disk and optical and biological characteristics of the Black-Sea surface waters. Translated by Peter V. Malyshev and Dmitry V. Malyshev