Analyzing intraannual variations in the energy characteristics of circulation in the Black Sea

Abstract

The energy characteristics of circulation in the Black Sea have been numerically analyzed for 2006. The annually and seasonally averaged integral components of the budget of both kinetic and potential energies are considered. It is shown that, over the period under study, wind forcing, buoyancy force, and friction are the main factors determining variations in the mechanical energy of the Black Sea. During the cold months, wind forcing maximally contributes to the kinetic energy. In spring, the contribution made by buoyancy force is dominant. The values of buoyancy force are maximum within the upper quasi-homogeneous layer during the warm season and on horizons, where the waters of the cold intermediate layer are concentrated, during the fall–winter season.