Abstract
Satellite (CZCS, AVHRR) and in-situ (CTD, ADCP) data are utilized
to characterize the impact of meso-scale motions and boundary currents
on transport and productivity along the wide Western Black Sea Shelf.
Various forms of isolated transient features including filaments,
coherent dipole and monopole eddies and jets transport materials
and momentum across the continental shelf. Unstable meandering motions
generated at topographic irregularities propagate along the continental
slope, As a result of the meandering motions, the material transported
spreads into an area several times wider than the continental shelf/slope
region. The spring-time surface productivity in the southern Black
Sea is modulated by transient dynamics. Species differentiation and
competition are evident along the boundary current system. Early
summer plankton blooms coincide with peak flood discharges from major
rivers, and influence the spread of eutrophication in the basin.
Upwelling patches are evident along the west Anatolian coastline,
in response to transient surface divergence. The upwelling locally
has an adverse effect on fish eggs and larvae. In winter, cold water
is formed on the western continental shelf. As the band of cold water
follows the coast and interacts with coastal geometry, it leads to
winter plankton blooms, particularly along the southern coast. Coherent
meso-scale/synoptic eddies and turbulent features are shown to evolve
rapidly in the system, indicating rapid conversions between different
forms of energy in the upper layers of the ocean.
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