Formation of salinity and density vertical stratification of the Black sea

Abstract

A simple model of the haline and density stratification evolution in the cylindrical rotating basin under the influence of buoyancy fluxes through the side border is proposed in the work based on the dimension analysis. The model is based on the assumption that the sharp pycnocline and two different circulation cells in the vertical plane above and below pycnocline. The model shows that the typical time of vertical circulation cell modification is determined by the inertia of the main body of waters in the basin. Also under fixed ambient conditions, one should expect pycnocline sharpening and increased intensity of vertical circulation cells over time. The model application to describe the climatic changes of the Black Sea haline stratification is discussed. It is asserted that the response of a marine basin to changes in the external conditions depends significantly on the inertia of a main water body. It is noted that this result is of importance not only for the Black Sea, but also for the World Ocean. This effect explains the slow change in the meridional heat transport even in case of considerable variations of deep convection at high latitudes.