Abstract
Abstract. Oceanographic data and a dynamic model are used to consider the structure of Persian Gulf outflow. This outflow influences the physical properties of Oman seawater which appear in the CTD profiles of the Oman Sea. The observations show that thickness of the outflow, which is banked against the Oman coasts due to the earth rotation, is about 200 m with tongues extending east and north that may be due to the internal waves. A simple dynamical model of the outflow based on potential vorticity conservation is used to find the horizontal extension of the outflow from the coast. Typical mass transport estimate by the outflow is about 0.4 Sv, which is larger than those reported by others. This may be due to the fact the model is inviscid but the outflow is influenced by the bottom friction. Variability of the outflow structure may reflect the changing ecosystem of the Persian Gulf. Any change of the outflow source, the Persian Gulf Water (PGW), say salinity increase due to excessive evaporation (climate factor) or desalination (anthropogenic factors) of the PGW may change the outflow structure and the product waters in the Oman Sea. Hence, one can test different scenarios of changing the outflow source, the Persian Gulf Water (PGW), say by salinity increase due to excessive evaporation or desalination to estimate changes in the outflow structure and the product waters in the Oman Sea. The results of the model show that these can increase the outflow width and mass transport substantially.
Highlights
Persian Gulf outflow (PGO) is as a result of saline water from the Gulf due to excessive evaporation of about 1.5 to 2 m/yr (e.g. Privett, 1959; Reynolds, 1992; Bower et al, 2000)
It may be argued that as the outflow with strong reduced gravity source, accelerates down at the throat of the Strait of Hormuz, it is diluted as a result of entrainment, before adjusting to the steady condition in the Oman Sea for which we have presented this simple dynamical model
Some hydrographic data for the exchange flow from the Persian Gulf was used to look at the outflow structure in the Strait of Hormuz and at the head of Oman Sea
Summary
Persian Gulf outflow (PGO) is as a result of saline water from the Gulf due to excessive evaporation of about 1.5 to 2 m/yr (e.g. Privett, 1959; Reynolds, 1992; Bower et al, 2000). A good review and a bulk hydraulic model for the Persian Gulf and Red sea outflows are given in Bower et al (2000) They found that the outflow product water from the Persian Gulf is highly diluted (by a factor of 4) due to strong mixing as its initial density difference with the ambient waters is large, leading to strong flow and more entrainment. Swift et al (2003) have presented a review of the outflow data and its characteristics in different seasons They showed that the outflow water originates in winter at the northern end of the Gulf rather than along the southern and western coasts. Bidokhti (2005) has analyzed the small scale layering of the outflow and attributed the thick layers to internal waves induced by the outflow, using results of laboratory experiments
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