The influence of the Eastern Mediterranean transient in the Aegean sea

This study, by using long term meteorological and oceanographic data, aims to display the effects of the Eastern Mediterranean Transient (EMT) on the Aegean Sea. The EMT process has been analyzed by using data derived from various sources. In order to ascertain the atmospheric effects, long term wind direction and force, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, precipitation, evaporation, surface water temperature and sea water temperature data have been obtained from the Turkish State Meteorological Service. The long term CTD changes have been ascertained with data acquired from the Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology and the Office of Navigation, Hydrography and Oceanography. The changes in the surface water temperature based on time and location have been analyzed by using AVHRR Pathfinder version five data. In the study, in accordance with the data on hand, the long term seasonal changes are analyzed by considering the EMT process. Also, through the North Atlantic Oscillation and the North Sea Caspian Patter indexes, the effects of the long term meteorological events are observed. In conclusion, the study, aside from analyzing the effects of the East Mediterranean movement on the Aegean Sea, aims to put forth an inquiry on the overall surface circulation of the Aegean Sea, the relation of the Aegean Sea to the other basins and on the atmosphere sea interactions in the Aegean Sea. During the EMT process, where a lot of different processes are effective, the effects of observed fall of air temperatures and precipitation changes can be seen. High correlation values can be found between the winter time air temperature and NCPI. The CTD analysis shows that the increase in the density levels of the water column in the Saros and Gokceada regions are in relation to the fall of the temperatures.Keywords: Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean Transient, sea surface temperature, AVHRR