Modelling the impact of Black Sea water inflow on the North Aegean Sea hydrodynamics |
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| Authors: | Margarita Tzali Sarantis Sofianos Anneta Mantziafou Nikolaos Skliris |
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| Institution: | (1) Ocean Physics and Modelling Group, Department of Physics, University of Athens, University Campus, Phys-V, 15784 Athens, Greece |
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| Abstract: | The impact of the Black Sea Water (BSW) inflow on the circulation and the water mass characteristics of the North Aegean Sea
is investigated using a high-resolution 3D numerical model. Four climatological numerical experiments are performed exploring
the effects of the exchange amplitude at the Dardanelles Straits in terms of the mean annual volume exchanged and the amplitude
of its seasonal cycle. Larger inflow of low salinity BSW influences the water characteristics of the whole basin. The largest
salinity reduction is encountered in the upper layers of the water column, and the most affected region is the northeastern
part of the basin. The winter insulation character of the BSW layer (low-salinity layer) is reduced by the seasonal cycle
of the inflow (minimum during winter). The maximum atmospheric cooling coincides with the minimum BSW inflow rate, weakening
the vertical density gradients close to the surface and thus facilitating the vertical mixing. The inflow rate of BSW into
the North Aegean Sea constitutes an essential factor for the circulation in the basin. Increased inflow rate results into
considerably higher kinetic energy, stronger circulation and reinforcement of the mesoscale circulation features. Although
the position of the front between BSW and waters of Levantine origin does not vary significantly with the intensity of the
BSW inflow rate, the flow along the front becomes stronger and more unstable as the inflow rate increases, forming meanders
and rings. The changes in the intensity of BSW inflow rate overpower the wind and thermohaline forcing and largely determine
the general circulation of the North Aegean Sea. |
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