Long-Term Variations in the Vertical Thermohaline Structure
in Deep-Water Zones of the Caspian Sea

V. S. Tuzhilkin* and A. N. Kosarev**

* State Oceanographic Institute, Kropotkinskii per. 6, Moscow, 119034 Russia
** Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119992 Russia

Received October 31, 2002

Abstract—Long-term variability in water temperature and salinity in August has been determined for deep-
water segments of standard profiles in the Central and Southern Caspian Sea based on data of on-board obser-
vations carried out in 1956–2000. Estimates of parameters of the vertical thermohaline structure of waters were
obtained for four time intervals. These estimates have been compared to the variability in the main external fac-
tors governing the formation of thermohaline regime. Appreciable long-term variations in the vertical thermo-
haline structure of waters, caused by a nonperiodic alternation of two main types of hydrological processes in
the Caspian Sea are revealed. Qualitative characteristics of these two types are presented.

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