Interannual Variability of Sea Surface Height over the Black Sea: Relation to Climatic Patterns

Abstract

Sea surface height (SSH) variability is presented over the Black Sea during 1993-2005. The 1/4 deg x 1/4 deg resolution daily SSH fields are formed using optimal interpolation of available altimeter data. SSH variability reveals distinct maxima in the eastern and western basins, reflecting variations in the corresponding gyres. A joint examination of SSH and sea surface temperature (SST) indicates strong relationship between the two only in winter, with correlations as high as 0.6 or more. This would reflect a steric change in sea surface height due to thermal expansion averaged over a relatively deep winter mixed layer. Newly developed SSH fields also demonstrate a switch to the positive mode of SSH starting from the end of 1996 lasting approx. 4 yr. Such a climatic shift is found to be strongly related to large-scale teleconnection patterns. Finally, the daily SSH and SST anomaly fields presented in this paper can supplement various applications in the Black Sea, such as examination of biological production and mesoscale eddy dynamics.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA484795

Entities

People

  • Ahmet B. Kara
  • Alan J. Wallcraft
  • Charlie N. Barron
  • Temel Oguz

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altimeters
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Black Sea
  • Climate Change
  • Data Processing
  • Interpolation
  • Jet Propulsion
  • Military Research
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Oceanography
  • Oceans
  • Rossby Waves
  • Sea Level
  • Sea Surface Temperature
  • Surface Temperature
  • Thermal Expansion
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Oceanography.