Abstract:
An Intercalibration Workshop was held at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(W.H.O.I.) from 1-10 December, 1991, for the CTD data acquired during HYDROBLACK '91.
This intercalibration exercise was a prelude to an interdisciplinary HYDROBLACK '91
intercalibration to be held in Crimea, Ukraine, in February, 1992, incorporating the full suite of physical, biological, and chemical measurements acquired during the cruise.
HYDROBLACK '91 acquired for the first time a complete hydrographic, biological, and
chemical data set for the entire Black Sea, to 200 m water depth, with the participation of all Black
Sea riparian countres as well as the U.S. Nearly 300 hydrographic stations were occupied to full
water depth; biological and chemical measurements were made at 100 of these stations. This
quasi-synoptic survey was accomplished using five ships during an interval of approximately three
weeks.
Results show some disparities between CTD's from the different regions, but the
intercalibrated results show a consistent and high resolution detail of the dynamic topography and
other physical characteristics of the entire Black Sea basin. The intercalibrated data set is now
available within each country and from W.H.O.I., and will form the basis for studies on ocean
physics as well as interdisciplinary issues such as oxygen depletion within the basin and hydrogen
sulfide distribution. This effort provides an intercalibrated, spatially-dense baseline against which
all future and past measurements can be compared.
In spite of significant economic pressures arising from the changes in the eastern European
countries, and the inadequate scientific exchange with the west during the past two decades,
HYDROBLACK '91 is considered a success and a model for future international scientific and
monitoring efforts thoughout the Black Sea. Similar efforts are anticipated twice-yearly in the
framework of the new Cooperative Marine Science Program for the Black Sea.
