Numerical Modeling of Meteorological Sea Level Oscillations in the Black Sea

To study the features of short-period meteorological sea level oscillations, adaptation of the numerical Princeton Ocean Model (POM) to the Black Sea conditions was performed. The created diagnostic model adequately reproduces the statistical characteristics of mesoscale sea level variability in the Black Sea. Using the model, estimates of the periods of natural sea level oscillations of the Black Sea (10.7, 5.8, 4.9, 4.1 h) were obtained and the spatial distribution of their relative amplitudes and phases was calculated. Numerical experiments made it possible to estimate the separate contribution of changes in atmospheric pressure and wind stress to the formation of the Black Sea level variations. Changes in atmospheric pressure are the main driving factor in the formation of meteorological sea level oscillations in most of the Black Sea. The prevailing role of wind in the formation of sea level was found for the Sea of Azov and on the northwestern part of the Black Sea coast.