Role of baroclinic currents in bottom salty water formation in the Arkona basin

Abstract

Spreading of a bottom saline water over the Arcona Basin caused by periodic inflow and outflow through the Strait of Zund is simulated. The model includes a system of hydrostatic equations of motion, the continuity equation, the transport equation and the equation of state. Simulation was run with and without taking into account a baroclinic factors. Calculations have shown that during inflow there is a rapid spreading of bottom salt water at significant part of the basin. In period of outflow the bottom salt water moves to the strait out of the Basin, but at the end of the outflow a significant part of salt water remains in the basin. The same calculations repeted without taking into account baroclinic factors shown that in that case at the end of outflow the bottom salt water leaves the basin almost entirely. Thus the calculations made it possible to estimate a role of baroclinic currents in formation of bottom salt water in the Arcona Basin.