Assimilation of satellite altimetry in the Black sea circulation model

Satellite altimeter data of ERS and T/P altimeters are assimilated in the basin-scale three-dimensional eddy-resolving model of the Black Sea circulation. ERS and T/P altimeter data were processed in the Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA) in frame of the Ocean Altimeter Pathfinder project to correct atmospheric refraction influence, ionosphere dynamics and surface waves. Additional processing of obtained data set was carried out to exclude the Geoid problem based on the careful estimation of the seasonal climate of the Black Sea circulation. The Black Sea circulation model is based on primitive equations. It has 33 non-uniformly spaced levels and 7.5 km horizontal grid step. The synoptic wind stress fields and monthly mean climatic heat fluxes and evaporation/precipitation are used for specification of the sea surface boundary conditions. Simulation of the Black Sea circulation are carried out from the spring of 1992 until the end of 2000 year. Analyses of almost nine years evolution of the Black Sea dynamics shows that all known quasi-permanent anticyclonic eddies are presented on sea level maps. The data of four ComsBlack basin-scale hydrographic surveys are used to validate model estimations of the three-dimensional hydrography. Predictive capabilities of the model are estimated by means of the comparison of prognostic simulations with data assimilation results. It is shown that the eddy-resolving model provides reasonable accuracy of the surface circulation forecast up to seven - ten days.