Interconnection of Sea Levels Through the Strait System Between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Interconnected Sea Level Dynamics Across the Mediterranean, Marmara, and Black Seas

This study investigates sea level interconnection across the Mediterranean and Black Seas using tide gauge measurements from 2010 to 2023. Intraseasonal sea level variations are analyzed alongside satellite altimetry, wind stress, and atmospheric pressure data to identify the primary drivers of sea level differences between these basins, linked through the Marmara Sea and the Straits. Spectral analysis offers valuable insights into how these drivers influence the time lag in sea level responses across the regions.

A combination of satellite altimetry and a linear analytical model is employed to examine the nonseasonal sea level lag between the interconnected basins. Field observations conducted during December 2021 and March 2022 provide additional context, shedding light to the exchange dynamics through the Istanbul Strait.

These findings offer a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing sea level variability and exchange in this critical region, with implications for regional hydrodynamics and climate resilience.