Hydro-environmental Characteristics of Seawater around Boubyan Island, Kuwait Using Annual Variations of Seawater Temperature, Salinity and Tide Fluctuations

Abstract

The temporal and spatial variations of seawater temperature, salinity, and tidal fluctuations are important parameters for understanding the hydrodynamic, water quality, and marine biological activity in the seawater. It is also important to study and understand the probability and statistical aspects of these parameters for the planning and implementation of different types of marine projects. These parameters were measured at five different locations around Boubyan Island, Kuwait, for a span of almost one year during 2015-16. Based on the analysis of the measured data, it is found that the seawater salinity has varied from 34.14 to 48.31 ppt. The seawater temperature is also found to vary from 10.83 oC to 35.67 oC. The seawater level has varied from -2.694 m to 2.378 m with respect to the mean sea level. It is found that the peak of the probability density of seawater level is flat valued, whereas the probability density of salinity and seawater temperature is multimodal. A comparison of present and past measured seawater temperatures revealed that in Khor Al-Sabiya, the seawater temperature is increasing at the rate of 0.034 oC/year, which clearly indicates the effect of global warming. A similar study reveals that the annual average increase in salinity at Khor Al-Sabiya is 0.38 ppt, which clearly indicates a significant reduction of freshwater flow from Shatt Al-Arab into the Arabian Gulf. Since Kuwait is investing in many projects around the Boubyan Island, the results of this study will be useful for the integrated and sustainable development of Boubyan and Failaka Islands in Kuwait.