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Turbid and brackish Azov waters penetrating through the Kerch Strait significantly modify the biooptical and thermohaline features in NorthWestern part of the Black Sea. The Kerch Strait itself is another additional powerful source of suspended matter. Analysis of the high-resolution Landsat imagery and MODIS satellite data on the total suspended matter (TSM) concentration and sea surface temperature is carried out in the present work to study the Kerch waters propagation in the Black Sea. It is shown that Kerch waters most frequently propagate westward from the strait in the form of a narrow jet having a width of 1-10 km. Turbid waters are mainly observed in shallow areas do not crossing isobaths of 20 meters. In winter such jets are observed in both optical (turbid) and infrared measurements (cold water). On average, they stretch from the Kerch Strait to Cape Meganom and cover the whole Feodosia Bay. Strong northeast storms increase the outflow of the Azov waters from the strait and intensify the western propagation of Azov waters. The propagation area and distance from the source of waters with high TSM are related to the strength and duration of storms. During southern storms, vast areas with large turbidity, which are not related to the penetration of Kerch waters, are observed in the vicinity of the Kerch Strait along the shores of the Kerch and Taman Peninsulas. Such increase of turbidity is a result of wave action, that lead to the coast erosion and resuspension of bottom sediments near the clay cliffs. High values of TSM are mostly observed up to the isobath of 50 meters. In some cases, Kerch waters can be transported offshore on the large distances upon the action of mesoscale eddies advection.

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The mechanisms of formation and distribution of total suspended matter (tsm) off the West Coast of Crimea under the influence of strong winds of various directions were investigated on the base of satellite data of medium and high resolution. The maximum tsm reaching the values of 200 mg / l was is observed during strong southern winds. In this case, the zone of high tsm is located at the western shelf of the Crimea limited by a 50 m isobath. The wave impact on resuspension of bottom sediments and the erosion of clay cliffs located on the west coast of Crimea lead to the formation of a large amount of tsm. After the storm, a northern alongshore current transfers tsm to the north. During northeast winds, the highest tsm are observed not near the coast, but in the seaward part of the shelf between 30 and 50 m isobaths. It is likely that turbulent mixing during such winds resuspense bottom sediments in shallow areas, which are further transported from the coast due to the offshore winds. The wind surge in this case leads to the formation of a band of clean cold water near the coast. A specific feature of the action of the northern and northwestern storms is the formation of a longshore jet stream along the western coast. The current occurs at the front of the upwelling zone. The stream transports the suspended matter offshore southward. The concentration of the suspended matter in this case is also much lower than when exposed to the southern winds, but it can reach a value of 3 mg/l.