The Black Sea Operational Nowcasting/Forecasting System (BSONFS) is used for continuous analysis and forecast of the Black Sea circulation and stratification. The basin-scale model (BSM) assimilates satellite altimetry data provided by AVISO Center, France, and sea surface temperature obtained through processing of AVHRR data received directly in MHI. The model is driven at surface by atmosphere forecasting forcing come from ALADIN regional forecasting National Meteorological Administration, Romania. The basin-scale model represents the MHI primitive equation circulation model with about 5 km of horizontal resolution and 238 x 132 grid points, with 35 z-levels on vertical for the area bounded by 27.4221 E and 41.8955 E, 40.8633 N and 46.6855 N. Linear kinematic condition is use for vertical velocity. On the bottom no slip condition for the velocity and no fluxes for temperature and salinity are used. The slip condition for velocity and no fluxes for temperature and salinity are used on the solid boundaries and Dirlichlet condition is used on open boundaries (rivers and straits).

The basin-scale model carries out forecasts by means of consecutive cycles shifted forward in time by 1 day. Every cycle is divided into two intervals. During the first interval corresponding to 24 hours of the yesterday the adjustment (spin up) takes place and assimilation is carried out. The NOAA SST and altimetry data are assimilated by the basin-scale model during the adjustment-assimilation interval. The second interval includes the period from 0 hour of UTC of the present day till 24 hours of UTC of the third day (the forecasting cycle). Model runs in a prognostic mode during this period of time.

The basin-scale model output includes dynamical sea level, three-dimensional fields of current velocity, temperature, and salinity on 35 z-levels and 2D mean fields of free surface elevation, heat and water flux and momentum flux for every 24 hours, starting from yesterday midnight and during the next three days.

Output in NetCDF format.

Data format can be delivered in any format or with specific information for any particular use.

Quality and accuracy was estimated during the off-line 2003-2007 drifters experiments and ECOOP validation experiment in 2008. The accuracy level of the predicted fields is consistent with the state of the art of the modeling of the World ocean circulation. Further improvement of the model assumes accurate tuning of parameterization of the mixing process in the upper layer of the sea.

For ship routing; fisheries; climate prediction; pollution management; specification of the boundary conditions for the nested high-resolution model along the open boundaries of the subregions.

Hydrometeorological Services, Search and Rescue Services, Fishery copmanies, Ship Navigation,. Oil/Gas Extracting companies.

Products are granted free of charge to all organizations that pursue research and educational purposes for their non-commercial activities. Data are distributed by ftp through a secure connection to a dedicated file server. Access is reserved to licensed users only, who will be provided with a personal login and password.

Released products are for the use of public-research institutions. All provided data are under non-transferable license. Data access is subject to the agreement with MHI.

BSONFS graphic products are available on website http://dvs.net.ua/mp/.

1. G.Korotaev, A.Kubryakov, E. Cordoneanu, V.Dorofeev, V.Fomin, A. Grigoriev, A.Kordzadze, T.Oguz, Yu. Ratner, D.Trukhchev, H.Slabakov Near-operational Black Sea nowcasting/forecasting system. / European Operational Oceanography: Present and Future. 2006, European Communities, 269-275

2. Demyshev S.G., Korotaev G.K. Numerical modeling of synoptic variability of the Black Sea with consideration for seasonal boundary conditions (in Russian). Izvestiya, Atmos-pheric and Oceanic Physics, vol.32, No1,1996.C. 108 - 116