Impact of Atmospheric Front Parameters on Free and Forced Oscillations of Level and Current in the Sea of Azov

Abstract

Level and current oscillations in the basin of the Sea of Azov have been studied by hydrodynamic modeling using the Princeton ocean model (POM). The hypothesis on the role of the resonance mechanism in the occurrence of extremely large amplitudes of storm surge and seiche oscillations depending on the velocity and time of motion of atmospheric fronts of the Sea of Azov has been tested. It is found that at the same wind, pressure perturbations moving over the Sea of Azov induce forced oscillations, and after the perturbations cease, free oscillations with amplitudes that are 14% higher than those obtained at constant atmospheric pressure. It is shown that the motion of the atmospheric front (whose velocity and time are selected under the assumption that waves with maximum amplitudes are generated) plays an important but not decisive role in the formation of the structure of currents and level oscillations in the Sea of Azov.