Abstract
A reanalysis of atmospheric circulation in the Black Sea region is performed with a high spatial resolution of 25 x 25 km for the period from 1958 to 2001. Climatic wind speed fields are estimated, as are their spatial structure and seasonal variability. Mesoscale regions of cyclonic and anticyclonic speed vorticity, which are connected with edge effects and orography, are distinguished. To single out the monsoon mechanism in the annual votricity cycle, numerical experiments on the sensitivity that the regional atmospheric circulation has to the sea-surface temperature perturbations have been carried out. Large-scale regional peculiarities of the surface wind field are considered for different seasons. The vorticity of the surface wind speed and strength is assessed. Large annual average values of the vorticity are obtained which are comparable with the range of seasonal variability; they evidence the defining role that wind plays in the generation and seasonal variability, as well as the average cyclonic water circulation in the Black Sea.