Modeling the Black Sea Deep Circulation with ERA-Interim Forcing in Summer 2013

The results of a prognostic numerical experiment on simulation of the Black Sea circulation are given for warm period of 2013. The MHI hydrophysical ocean model and ERA-Interim atmospheric forcing are used for the modeling. Comparison of observed and simulated temperature and salinity is carried out. A satisfactory agreement between measured and simulated data is obtained. The greatest attention is paid to the deep Black Sea circulation structure. Hydrophysical fields at the depths below the main pycnocline are studied in detail. It is confirmed that the field of deep currents contains vortex formations and flows that qualitatively and quantitatively differ from the surface ones. There are a number of vortexes that form not at the sea surface but near the low boundary of the main pycnocline (at depths of 150-300 m) and propagate down to the bottom without weakening. As well, in summer 2013, quasi-periodic narrow deep currents propagating anticyclonically are generated in some regions along the Black Sea continental slope.