Ivanov V.A., Plastun T.V., Markova N.V., Bagaev A.V.
The study is aimed to present data on prevailing directions, variability and magnitude of currents within the investigation of the Black Sea circulation at the depth below Statistical pycnocline. Vertical profiles of the velocity were obtained from the in-situ measurements during expeditions of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute. Among these data, 25 locations were selected where measurements are available from 500 m deep and below. The measurement equipment and geographical locations of the stations are provided. Periods of surveys took from hours to 2 months. Data availability both in time and space was sufficiently uneven, however present study for the first time renders full measurements array since 1960-s.
After data quality assessment and projection to 500, 750 and 1000 m horizons, a table was built, which demonstrates the data coverage, direction frequency along with the average current speed.
The analysis of vertical profiles demonstrated that current velocity vectors at some stations in the near-surface and deep layers have similar directions. However the majority of the examined profiles show velocity directions that differ significantly between the horizons. For each stations and horizons directional rose-charts for velocities and absolute values were plotted. Those were used for illustration of the cases of current velocity switch between different layers. The absolute value of a velocity vector deeper than 500 m might be greater than the value in the upper layers.
