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Turkish Journal of Marine Sciences, vol.4, no.3, pp.99-115, 1998 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
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 particularly 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 now 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.