Seasonal and spatial variability of the content of suspended organic substances in the active layer of the Black Sea

On the basis of the generalized data of multiannual observations (1985–1994), we analyze the seasonal variability of the vertical and spatial distributions and composition (C_sos, N_sos, C_sos/cha, and C/N) of suspended organic substances (SOS) in the shelf zone and in the upper active layer of the abyssal part of the Black Sea. The results of our analysis enable us to conclude that only a narrow coastal band of the shelf in the northwest and west parts of the sea suffers to an extremely pronounced anthropogenic impact, which manifests itself in a significant increase in the mass of suspended organic substances. The formation of new organic substances and, hence, the mass of suspended organic substances in these regions attain the level of eutrophic waters in the late-spring and summer periods. In the open-sea region, the anthropogenic impact is less pronounced and the spatial distribution of suspended organic substances is determined by the general dynamics of waters and the intensity of phytoplankton production. 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     

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     

Suspended particulate matter and nepheloid layers over the southern margin of the Cretan Sea (N.E. Mediterranean): seasonal distribution and dynamics

Seawater along the southern margin of the Cretan Sea (May 1994–September 1995) has been found to have light transmission values ranging from 79% to 94%, corresponding to SPM values ranging from 1.5 mg l⁻¹ to 0.2 mg l⁻¹. The highest SPM concentrations (mostly of terrigenous origin) were found close to the sea-bed over the shelf-break and upper slope. The origins of SPM in the surface waters (<150 m) is principally biogenic. The occurrence of nepheloid layers at intermediate depths within the upper water column is mostly a result of density stratification. The dynamics of SPM distributions are governed by the 2-gyre system which induces a general onslope flow; and so inhibits the seaward dispersion of the relatively more turbid coastal/shelf waters. This is in agreement with the virtual absence of suspensates of terrigenous origin offshore of the shelf-break. Near bottom nepheloid layers (BNL) and detached intermediate nepheloid layers occur in the vicinity of the shelf-break and over upper slope region; these may be explained by resuspension induced by near-bed current activity and breaking of internal waves. High concentrations of SPM near the seabed may be caused by anthropogenic (trawling) activity. Occasionally, the formation of BNL may result from local seismic activity resulting in gravity-driven mass movements.     

Remote sensing and surface POC concentration in the South Atlantic

Several SeaWiFS products have been compared with shipboard data to assess the possibility of using remote sensing to estimate particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration in surface waters. Transmissometer data were collected during six South Atlantic Ventilation Experiment (SAVE) hydrographic expeditions conducted between November 1987 and March 1989 from R/V Knorr, and Melville. A total of 361 beam attenuation profiles were made with a SeaTech transmissometer interfaced with a CTD/rosette. In order to calculate the POC concentration from transmissometer profiles, a regression between beam attenuation and POC for open Atlantic Ocean waters derived from our research in the North Atlantic (North Atlantic Bloom Experiment, NABE) and enhanced by data from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station (BATS) was applied. The profiles were processed and examined as vertical sections of the surface 250 m. The data were collected in two successive years, during the same season, which allowed us to compile a combined data set over the austral summer for examination. Beam attenuation/POC concentrations were integrated down to one attenuation depth with the intent of making comparisons with satellite optical data. No satellite optical data were available for 1987–1989, so the only option was to compare our integrated data with SeaWiFS-derived variables from later years averaged over the same season as SAVE data. Analysis of four SeaWiFS products acquired from 1997 to 2002 demonstrated very low variations from year to year for seasonally averaged data, suggesting that making comparisons of the beam attenuation/POC fields with averaged satellite optical products from later years is a valid (though not optimal) approach for this area. The highest correlation between beam attenuation/POC concentration and remotely derived products was found with normalized water-leaving radiance at 555 nm. Other SeaWiFS-derived variables—chlorophyll concentration, diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490 nm and integral chlorophyll (integrated over one attenuation depth)—were also compared but showed a slightly less satisfactory correlation.     

Monitoring the Kuroshio Extension with Dynamically Constrained Synthesis of the Acoustic Tomography, Satellite Altimeter and in situ Data

A finite-difference quasigeostrophic (QG) model of an open ocean region has been employed to produce a dynamically constrained synthesis of acoustic tomography and satellite altimetry data with in situ observations. The assimilation algorithm is based upon the 4D variational data interpolation scheme controlled by the model's initial and boundary conditions. The data sets analyzed include direct and differential travel times measured at the array of five acoustic transceivers deployed by JAMSTEC in the region of the Kuroshio Extension in 1997, Topex/Poseidon altimetry, CTD soundings, and ADCP velocity profiles. The region monitored is located within the area 27.5°–36.5°N, 143°–155°. The results of assimilation show that mesoscale variability can be effectively reconstructed by five transceivers measuring direct and reciprocal travel times supported by relatively sparse in situ measurements. The misfits between model and data lie within the observational error bars for all the data types used in assimilation. We have compared the results of assimilation with the statistical inversion of travel time data and analyzed energy balances of the optimized model solution. Energy exchange between the depth-averaged and shear components of the observed currents reveals a weak decay of the barotropic mode at the rate of 0.2 ± 0.7⋅10⁻⁵ cm²/s³ due to topographic interaction. Mean currents in the region are unstable with an estimate of the available potential energy flux from the mean current to the eddies of 4.7 ± 2.3⋅10⁻⁵ cm²/s³. Kinetic energy transition has the same sign and is estimated as 2.8 ± 2.5⋅10⁻⁵ cm²/s³. Potential enstrophy is transferred to the mesoscale at a rate of 5.5 ± 2.7⋅10⁻¹⁸ s⁻³. These figures provide observational evidence of the properties of free geostrophic turbulence which were predicted by theory and observed in numerical experiments. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A stochastic model of the atmospheric precipitation in the coastal zone of the Tropical Atlantic

A stochastic prognostic model of the atmospheric precipitation in the tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean is developed on the basis of a large data array. The data represent a series of monthly precipitation rates for 31 towns in the Republic of Guinea covering a period of 35–64 years as well as satellite data on the meridional displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone during 11 years. The model takes into account major regularities of the tropical precipitation: their impulsive periodic regime, trends, and the modulation of the stochastic component by the determined variability.Translated by Mikhai M. Trufanov.     

Joint Soviet-Turkish expedition in the Black Sea

The hydrological and hydrochemical structures of the upper 300 m water column of the Black Sea in autumn 1988 have been studied. Regularities in the distribution of the physico-chemical characteristics in the zone of interaction between aerobic and anaerobic waters as well as the topography of the H₂S zone boundary and its connection with a certain density gradient have been found.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

The hydrogen sulphide boundary in the Black Sea in the 1920s and 1980s

Maps of the boundary topography for anaerobic waters in the Black Sea are plotted for the summers of the 1920s and 1980s. The mean depths of the H₂S boundary for this period are determined. It is shown that the variation in the distribution and average location of the hydrogen sulphide zone has remained constant for the last 60 years.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.