Internal Waves Study on a Narrow Steep Shelf of the Black Sea Using the Spatial Antenna of Line Temperature Sensors

Abstract

The results of investigations into internal waves on a narrow steep shelf of the northeastern coast of the Black Sea are presented here. To measure the parameters of internal waves, the spatial antenna of three autonomous line temperature sensors were equipped in the depth range of 17 to 27 m. In observations that lasted for 10 days, near-inertial internal waves with a period close to 17 h and short-period internal waves with periods of 2–8 min, regularly approaching the coast, were revealed. The wave amplitudes were 4–8 m for inertial waves and 0.5–4 m for short-period internal waves. It was determined that most of the short-period internal waves approached from the southeast direction, from Cape Kodor. A large number of short waves reflected from the coast were also recorded. The intensification of short-period waves with inertial periodicity and the belonging of trains of short waves to crests of inertial waves were identified. In general, it was shown that the internal wave field at a narrow shelf significantly differs in its features from analogs of ordinary shelves of the Black Sea.

Keywords

• internal waves
• inertial and short-period internal waves
• space antenna
• line temperature sensors
• shelf
• the Black Sea