Impact of Bosphorus Intrusions on Long-Term Warming of Intermediate Waters in the Northeastern Black Sea

Between 2010 and 2021, a pronounced warming was observed in the mid-depth water layer (~100–700 m) in the northeastern Black Sea attributed to the influence of Bosphorus-derived waters. During this period, the magnitude of positive temperature anomalies in Bosphorus intrusions along the southern limb of the Rim Current and in the northeastern part of the sea significantly exceeded the magnitude of anomalies in the intrusions detected in 2005–2009. Since 2014, there has been a notable increase in the number of Bosphorus lenses observed in the northeastern Black Sea. This, in conjunction with the rising temperatures within these lenses, has resulted in alterations in the thermohaline structure of the mid-depth water column.