Seasonal variability of climatic currents in the Caspian Sea reconstructed by assimilation of climatic temperature and salinity into the model of water circulation

Can the Ocean's Heat Engine Control Horizontal Circulation? Insights From the Caspian Sea

“…The formation of dense water originates in the north where warm water transported along the eastern part of the Caspian Sea meets cold fresh water and sea ice. The large-scale horizontal circulation and thermohaline structure of the Caspian Sea has been thoroughly investigated (e.g., Gunduz &Őzsoy, 2014;Ibrayev et al, 2010;Kitazawa & Yang, 2012;Knysh et al, 2008;Nicholls et al, 2012;Tuzhilkin & Kosarev, 2005). Table 1).…”

Caspian Sea surface circulation variability inferred from satellite altimeter and sea surface temperature

“…The available hydrographic data are mostly localized on the continental shelf regions and only of sufficient detail allowing to characterize the synoptic variability of the currents [Tsytsarev, 1967;Klevtsova, 1967;Bondarenko, 1993;Ghaffari and Chegini, 2010;Jamshidi and Abu Bakar, 2012]. On the other hand, modeling studies made until now only provide information on the climatological surface circulation, without revealing details of its interannual variability [Knysh et al, 2008;Ibrayev et al, 2010;Tuzhilkin and Kosarev, 2005].…”

“…The general surface circulation characteristics deduced from the earlier model results are as follows: by assimilating climatological temperature and salinity into a primitive equation circulation model, Knysh et al [2008] have shown the existence of a basin-wide cyclonic circulation in the Middle Caspian Sea (MCS) in winter. Kara et al [2010] found a similar pattern, using a climatologically forced model (HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM)) [Bleck and Boudra, 1981] of the Caspian Sea.…”

Modelling seasonal circulation and thermohaline structure of the Caspian Sea

“…A persistent northward transport by subsurface currents was shown along the eastern shelf slope, despite the surface currents often being directed southward in the same region, confirming the features reviewed above, as well as displaying horizontally (Lednev, 1943). and vertically layered structures of the boundary currents over a mild slope. Recently, by assimilating climatological temperature and salinity into a primitive-equation ocean circulation model, Knysh et al (2008) obtained a cyclonic circulation in the MCS in winter, with the above-mentioned features of a southward surface current and a northward subsurface current along the eastern shelf. Knysh et al (2008) found a highly variable circulation corresponding to an intense, mostly barotropic circulation in February and a relatively less intense baroclinic circulation in the March-June period.…”

“…Recently, by assimilating climatological temperature and salinity into a primitive-equation ocean circulation model, Knysh et al (2008) obtained a cyclonic circulation in the MCS in winter, with the above-mentioned features of a southward surface current and a northward subsurface current along the eastern shelf. Knysh et al (2008) found a highly variable circulation corresponding to an intense, mostly barotropic circulation in February and a relatively less intense baroclinic circulation in the March-June period.…”