A DETERMINISTIC APPROACH TO THE INTERFACE LAYER VARIATIONS ALONG THE STRAIT OF ISTANBUL

A deterministic approach to the interface layer variations along the Strait of Istanbul

Bedri Alpar, Hüsne Altıok, Hüseyin Yüce, Ajun Kurter, Ertuğrul Doğan

University of lstanbul, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Vefa, 34470 Istanbul, TURKEY
Turkish Navy, Department of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography, Çubuklu, 81647 Istanbul, TURKEY

Abstract

The Strait of Istanbul (Bosphorus) possesses interesting internal hydraulic characteristics and exhibits a complex flow system with considerable temporal and spatial variability. Seasonal or longer time scale variability of the interface layer is related to the changes in the conditions in the Marmara and Black Seas and influenced by the climatic changes. The higher frequency variations, on the other hand, are associated with atmospheric forcing. The variations on the time scale of few days (storm surges) may dominate the flow paticularly in winter, giving rise to substantial modification of the two-layer flow and water mass structure. This variability may lead to the blockage of either the lower or upper layer. This paper describes oceanographic and meteorological measurements taken during February 1996 – January 1997 sea trials along the Strait of Istanbul and its entrance regions. The main objective of this study is to determine the upper Black Sea water flow and underlying. Mediterranean water flow along the Strait of Istanbul. The seasonal depth variations of the interface layer of the flow system along the Strait of Istanbul, their relations with sea level difference between adjacent seas and atmospheric forcing have been investigated.

Keywords: Strait of Istanbul, blockage, interface layer, sea level, atmospheric forcing