Spatial Structure and Recurrence of Large-Scale Temperature Anomalies of the Sea Surface Temperature in the Black Sea

Abstract

Composites of warm and cold temperature anomalies were constructed, and the distribution of the recurrence frequency of days with temperature anomalies in the four seasons of the year was evaluated based on satellite measurements data on sea surface temperature. Regions of the formation of cold anomalies in the northwestern part of the sea and warm anomalies in the northern and northeastern parts of sea were distinguished, related to advection by the Black Sea Rim Current. The distribution functions of temperature anomalies and the lifetime of the cold and warm anomalies were estimated. A plausible physical mechanism of the generation of cold anomaly in the southeastern marginal part of the sea related to Ekman pumping of cold water from the thermocline was considered.