Parameters of Sea Currents on the Northeastern Black Sea Shelf Based on Experimental Data

Abstract— The aim of this study was to conduct a basic statistical analysis of sea current parameters, including estimates of the maximum velocities in the sea shelf zone for the period from January 2016 to November 2023, as well as to identify the main periods of oscillations in sea current velocity components in the ranges of mesoscale and synoptic variability. The research is based on data from direct instrumental measurements of sea current parameters taken at the hydrophysical test site of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Gelendzhik, Black Sea). Statistical characteristics of surface and bottom currents (directional recurrence and average and maximum velocities) were determined. Specifically, it was found that the maximum velocities of surface currents can reach up to 1.8 m/s. The primary periods of oscillations in velocity components and their seasonal variations were identified. Analysis of rotation spectra indicated that an anticyclonic pattern of water movement predominates within the range of synoptic variability.