# An Analysis of the Wind Parameters in the Western Side of the Black Sea
## 2 Materials and Methods  
### Target Area  
The Black Sea represents an inland sea situated between Europe, Anatolia, and Caucas, covering an area of 422,000 km\({}^{2}\). The basin is considered a semi-enclosed sea, connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Straits of Dardanelles and Bosporus and to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait. The sea is defined by an irregular shape being divided between Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The average water depth is about 1240 m, while a maximum of 2210 m is observed offshore. In terms of bathymetry, wide shelf area can be noticed that occupies up to 25% of the total seafloor area and, on average, being restricted to sea depths of 100-200 m and a width of 200 km. The remaining area is associated with the continental slope and the abyssal plain, where depths below 2000 m can be found. The configuration of the bathymetric line, the presence of depressions and canyons, has an important influence on the distribution of water masses, direction and speed of currents. The bathymetric chart of the Black Sea can be observed in Figure 1[22; 23; 24].  
The wind and wave climate are determined by the geographical position and the landscape configuration, which have temperate-continental characteristics. During winter months frequent storms and strong N-NE winds are accompanied by waves 2-4 m high, but in summer wave heights are generally less than 1 m. The tide is almost imperceptible, for it reaches scarcely 10 cm in height [23; 24].  
One of the greatest particularities of the Black Sea is the inability of the water layers to mix. The hydro-chemical configuration of the sea is primarily influenced by the fluvial inputs and the basin topography, which result in a strongly stratified vertical structure and a positive water balance. The first layer, located on the sea surface over 50 m depth, is generally cooler, less salty, and less dense than the deeper waters, as it is fed by large fluvial systems. The second area, known as a cold layer, is a sub-surface water mass located at 50 to 180 m depth [23; 24].  
The salinity of the Black Sea is determined by the balance between the fresh water and water exchange through the Bosporus Strait. At the surface water of the Black Sea, an average salinity of 16-18 PPT (two times less than the salinity of the World Ocean surface waters) was recorded. The salinity increases to 21 to 22.5 PPT (parts per thousand) at a depth below 120-200 m. This difference is motivated because the water layers do not mix, and high salinity water from Mediterranean origin penetrates into the sea through the Bosporus Strait [25].  
The water temperatures vary depending on the season. In summer the surface water warms to 25 \({}^{\circ}\)C, (occasional extremes at the shores of up to 28 \({}^{\circ}\)C). In winter in the open sea, it gets to 6-8 \({}^{\circ}\)C. The northwestern coast has ice in the winter while the southeastern stays around 9 \({}^{\circ}\)C [26].  
The Black Sea is considered a vital connection between Europe and Asia regarding maritime activities. Most of the research effort is focused on the Romanian coastal zone, while the eastern side characteristics are less discussed.