Meteorological observations of the coastal boundary layer structure at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Continuous wind profile and turbulence measurements were initiated in July 2008 at the coastal meteorological observatory of Ahtopol on the Black Sea (south-east Bulgaria) under a Bulgarian-Russian collaborative program. These observations are the start of high resolution atmospheric boundary layer vertical structure climatology at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast using remote sensing technology and turbulence measurements. The potential of the measurement program with respect to this goal is illustrated with examples of sea breeze formation and characteristics during the summer of 2008. The analysis revealed three distinct types of weather conditions: no breeze, breeze with sharp frontal passage and gradually developing breeze. During the sea breeze days, the average wind speed near the ground (from sonic anemometer at 4.5 m and first layer of sodar at 30–40 m) did not exceed 3–4 m s 1. The onset of breeze circulation was detected based on surface layer measurements of air temperature (platinum sensor and acoustic), wind speed and direction, and turbulence parameters. The sodar measurements revealed the vertical structure of the wind field.