Temperature and Humidity Regime Changes on the Black Sea Coast in 1982-2014

Abstract

Specific features of climate change in the Black Sea and on its northeastern coast for the period of 1982-2014 are investigated based on weather station data, ERA-Interim reanalysis, and satellite data on sea surface temperature. The main trends in air temperature and precipitation are revealed from weather station data and are compared with reanalysis data. The spatial peculiarities of variations in air temperature, integrated water vapor, moisture flux divergence, CAPE, and vertical velocity are analyzed. It is shown that air temperature variations on the coast highly correlate with sea surface temperature. In general, surface air temperature in the region has risen, especially in summer. Despite the increase in integrated water vapor and CAPE, no statistically significant increase was revealed for the mean amount of precipitation, for its intensity and maximum values. This fact might be associated with the moisture flux divergence increase in the region due to the intensification of large-scale downdrafts.