Abstract
A shallow-water model, coupled with a three dimensional, hydrostatic ocean model, is used to study the wind induced circulation, and the Shatt-al-Arab river plume expansion, in the Persian Gulf. The models are used in an idealized configuration. The following results are obtained: 1) with northwesterly winds, a double gyre is formed: this gyre is cyclonic in the south and anticyclonic in the north. Southeastward currents flow along the Iranian and Arabian coast where the wind stress at the surface dominates the pressure gradient related to the free surface slope, and conversely in the deeper region of the Gulf; 2) In the eastern part of the Gulf, the cyclonic gyre intensifies, as observed and reported in the literature; 3) For northwesterly winds, the plume from Shatt-al-Arab first heads towards the Iranian coast and then spreads southeastward along the Arabian coast; for northerly and northeasterly winds, the plume directly follows the Kuwaiti coast and then the Arabian coast. This sensitivity of the orientation can be related to the double gyre flow structure; 4) A southeasterly wind confines the plume in the northern end of the Gulf as does a pure tidal flow.
Highlights
The Persian Gulf is a northwest to southeast oriented basin, with length of about 1000 km, maximum width of 350 km, average depth of 40 m and maximum depth of 120 m at the Straits of Hormuz which open on the Gulf of Oman (see Figure 1(a))
Southeastward currents flow along the Iranian and Arabian coast where the wind stress at the surface dominates the pressure gradient related to the free surface slope, and in the deeper region of the Gulf; 2) in the eastern part of the Gulf, the cyclonic gyre intensifies, as observed and reported in the literature; 3) for northwesterly winds, the plume from Shatt-al-Arab first heads towards the Iranian coast and spreads southeastward along the Arabian coast; for northerly and northeasterly winds, the plume directly follows the Kuwaiti coast and the Arabian coast
High evaporation over the Persian Gulf leads to the formation of salty waters, called the Persian Gulf Water, which are exported into the Gulf of Oman, and which are compensated by an inflow of fresher Indian Ocean Surface Water
Summary
The Persian Gulf is a northwest to southeast oriented basin, with length of about 1000 km, maximum width of 350 km, average depth of 40 m and maximum depth of 120 m at the Straits of Hormuz which open on the Gulf of Oman (see Figure 1(a)). We study the wind-driven circulation of the Persian Gulf, assuming initial water mass homogeneity, and we investigate the evolution of the plumes from its northern rivers. Winds over the Persian Gulf are dominantly northwesterly with an annual mean of 5 m/s. This dominant wind is called Shamal and it blows regularly in summer, while wind bursts can occur in winter. Studies on the influence of rivers on the Persian Gulf circulation (like [4]) have considered only the first group of rivers.
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