Modeling of Temperature and Salinity Fields in the Caspian Sea Using POM Model

In this research, the variability in temperature and salinity field of the Caspian Sea was studied using POM model. In this model, temperature and salinity field’s data and wind field and the flux of atmospheric data were collected from WOA and ECMWF, respectively, with a resolution of 7.5 minutes and the time step of 6 hours and for Bathymetry data from GEBCO08 with an spatial resolution of 30 seconds is used. Initially, the model for ten years (1988-1997) was carried out. After examining the stability of the output with observation data available (1996) were compared, that good agreement between their temperature and salinity changes observed. The results showed, the maximum monthly average surface temperature difference of the Caspian Sea in February, May, August and November are 18 °C, 13 °C, 11 °C, 20 °C, respectively and the maximum monthly average surface salinity difference are, 2.8 psu, 3.2 psu, 5.2 psu and 4.8 psu, respectively. Salinity gradient in depth in February and August in the western part of the Caspian Sea to the eastern part has been stronger. Surface temperature difference between the eastern and western part of the middle basin, in August, and its temperature profile indicates the upwelling phenomena in this part of the Caspian Sea