Sodar observation of the breeze return currents over the coastal zone of the Black Sea

Abstract

Abstract The breeze circulation was studied with the help of sodars in 2 short-term expeditions on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The measurements were carried out at a stationary oceanographic platform located 400 m from the coast. The main attention was paid to the vertical structure of breeze flows with the accompanying return currents aloft. The existence of turbulent exchange between the near-sea breeze flow and the return current at an altitude of several hundred meters is shown. Hence, the return current must be taken into account when determining the height of the mixing layer above the sea surface in the offshore zone.