Interconnection between Winds and Sea Level in the Western Black Sea Based on 10 Years Data Analysis from the Climate Change Perspective

Abstract

The relationship between the annual wind records from Romanian shore weather station and annual mean sea level, is examined using observations covering period 2006 - 2016. It is demonstrated that even such a relatively short record is sufficient for finding a convincing relationship. Using measured data from a weather station is found to give a slight improvement over reanalysis data, but for both the correlation between annual mean sea level and wind energy in the west–east direction is high. Supplementary data from a numerical hydrodynamic model are used to illustrate the regional variability in annual mean sea level and its interannual variability at a high spatial resolution. Recent climate change and land uplift are causing changes in sea level. This study implies that climatic changes in the strength of winds from a specific direction may affect local annual mean sea level quite significantly. Water levels at a particular location are not only affected by the local air pressure but also by other factors, so this simple correlation is rarely observed. Using 10 years (2006 - 2016) of Constanta - Romania coastal sea-level observations, we examine the contribution of these latter processes to long-term sea-level rise, which, to date, have been relatively less explored. A specific analysis and to evidence the correlation between wind pattern and sea level, the 2014 is chosen due to the frequent western winds that occurred during January and August in the Romanian Black Sea coast.