Black Sea Water Temperatures: A Silent Threat

The black sea is a strongly stratified body of water and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean between Eastern Europe and Western Asia.  Its upper layer is less saline than deep water layer. It is a turban shaped sea lying on the head of Turkey. Major rivers, such as the Danube, Dnieper, Rioni, Southern Bug, and Dnieste supply water to Black sea. Average temperatures of the surface of the Black Sea may not have risen but there is a prediction of possible temperature rise in the sea. There is a unique quality of Black Sea to have a positive net freshwater balance and very specific local currents. As the observational data on temperature change is not verified globally therefore it is not clear what have been the impacts of climate change on Black Sea water temperatures. Researchers have shown that the sea has been degraded because of the rising pollution and climatic variations. Scientists have found that there is a decreasing trend in surface salt content of 0.02 % per year that is advert to the increasing surface salinity found in the Mediterranean. It is also said that it is also possible that the deeper waters may become warmer prior to the surface layer due to global warming. If it happens then it will be a big threat to the world because it makes up over 90% of the basin's deep water volume.

By: Anita Aishvarya

Content: www.sciencedaily.com