Research Information System
European Geosciences Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 27 April - 02 May 2025, pp.1, (Summary Text)
The Mediterranean outflow from the Bosphorus advances through channels and delta features, reaching the shelf edge, spreading across the mid-shelf slope, and cascading down the steep continental slope. During the July 2024 cruise, intensive sampling along transects using CTD and Scanfish provided high-resolution data to better understand the pathways of the Mediterranean plume along the continental slope. This study explores the steering of Mediterranean streams through a complex channel network on the shelf, the evolution of distinct water properties—including dissolved oxygen content—and the eventual transition of the Mediterranean flow into neutrally buoyant layers.
To complement the observational data, the dynamics of the gravity current along the shelf-slope region of the Black Sea, characterized by anomalous temperature and oxygen levels were modeled. Model parameters were optimized and validated against the collected cruise data. These new hydrographic observations and modeling efforts shed light on the Mediterranean gradient flow's penetration into the Black Sea interior, advancing our understanding of its pathways and influence on regional water properties.