Persian Gulf Area Research Articles

Oil Issues of the Smallest Arabic Member of the OPEC

The past, current status and future of the oil sector of the UAE are considered and analyzed. The author uses methods of comparative and systematic analyses, which are implemented for assessing the emirates’ oil in the context of the world, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf area. The article mainly concludes that the Covid-19 pandemia has seriously hit the UAE oil market (harder than the other sectors of the national economy), however, the pandemia has made inland oil demand (and petroleum imports) of the emirates lower but the domestic crude oil production will unlikely increase in the foreseeable future above 200 kb/d. Still, the federation fares quite well as the OPEC pledged crude oil production cuts are concerned.

Preservation and Reproduction of an Ancient Human Humerus through X-ray Microscopy and 3D Printing

The combination of X-ray Microscopy (XRM) and three-dimensional virtual reconstruction has enabled the digitization and restoration of broken artifacts. By scanning, acquiring, and virtually stitching together the 3D reconstructions of individual broken pieces, damaged relics can be visualized as if they were intact objects. These virtually reconstructed samples can then be reproduced as physical copies through 3D printing, allowing for the sharing of rare findings in museum exhibits worldwide so that printed copies can be displayed for public exposure, while the original pieces remain preserved. This paper aims to demonstrate the application of these reconstruction principles to an artificially modified human humerus belonging to the II–I millennium BC. The humerus was bent into the shape of a serpent for ritual purposes related to the ancient “Snake Cult”, which was widespread in the Persian Gulf area during the Iron Age. Following the scanning and software elaboration processes, the pieces were printed in Polylactic Acid (PLA) as a single object and made available to the public, thus giving new life to a unique piece of history.

ИРАК И ПОЛИТИЧЕСКИЙ КРИЗИС 1938–1939 ГГ. В КУВЕЙТЕ

This article deals with little-known events in the history of relations between Iraq and Kuwait that took place in the second half of the 1930-s. These two Arab countries located in the Persian Gulf area have much in common in their history and culture. At the same time the relations between them were not always stable and good neighborly. In their development they went through the different stages including phases of crises and armed confrontation. Today many of us still remember well the military events that occurred between these states in 1990–1991. The results of this fratricidal war eventually led to a change in the political regime in Iraq and seriously affected the development of regional relations in the Middle East. However, this war was preceded by other conflicts between countries. The earliest took place on the eve of the World War II. The conflict was associated with the aspiration of Iraqi King Ghazi and his supporters to unite Kuwait and Iraq. The article examines the reasons and grounds of the Iraqi political course that escalated the 1938–1939 crisis in Kuwait.

Depositional environments and sequence stratigraphy of the Arab Formation, Persian Gulf, Offshore Iran

The carbonate-evaporite sequence of the Arab Formation constitutes the important reservoir unit in the Persian Gulf and adjacent area. The paper aims to present detail facies characteristics, depositional environment and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Arab Formation in an oil field in the Persian Gulf. A total of 12 microfacies (MF) and 3 dolomitic (diagenetic) facies (DF) were identified, and are interpreted as a homoclinal carbonate ramp platform. The Arab Formation is divided into four third order sequences corresponding to main reservoir intervals (Arab-A, B, C, D). The results highly correlate with the sequences of local and regional studies in the Arabian Plate. It is probably due to the cake layer nature of the Arab Formation and high impact of the world eustatic sea-level fluctuations (global curves) on the facies stacking pattern.

Wave height predictions in complex sea flows through soft-computing models: Case study of Persian Gulf

The present study case examined the capability of Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS), M5P, and Random Forest (RF) soft-computing approaches for the prediction of wave height over Persian Gulf. Observed data consisted of 8001 wave height data: 5601 data were selected for each model development, while the remaining 2400 data were used for testing the soft-computing models applied here. Six statistical indices were considered here for evaluating the accuracies of the tested models: Coefficient of Determination (R2), Correlation Coefficient (CC), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), Bias, Scatter Index (SI), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The outcomes of this study revealed that the M5P model outperformed all the other models in terms of predictive performance for wave heights, and Taylor diagram and single-factor Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results confirmed that M5P and ANFIS-trimf models are highly more suitable for retrieving wave height estimations compared to the other soft-computing models. The findings of this study case represent a useful tool for ecohydraulic, sea, and coastal engineers in obtaining accurate wave height predictions when dealing with the design of engineering structures and water resource management in an extremely tangled fluid dynamic and climate context as Persian Gulf area.

Physiological responses and phytoremediation capability of Avicennia marina to oil contamination

The impact of oil pollution on coastal vulnerable ecosystems has been a major concern especially, in the Persian Gulf area. The current study was carried out to assess to what extent Avicennia marina can tolerate oil contamination and degrade crude oil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from rhizosphere soil. Seeds of A. marina were grown in control and crude oil-contaminated (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10% w/w) soil under ambient greenhouse conditions. Four-month-old plants were collected, measured for their biometry, and assayed for physiological characteristics in relation to degradation of PAHs. A. marina exposed to petroleum responded by allocating proportionally more biomass to root than shoot, activating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative mechanisms and removing of PAHs, particularly in lower concentrations of crude oil in the soil. The content of total PAHs in A. marina rhizosphere soil, grown on 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10% oil-treated soils were, respectively, 37 ± 0.4, 21.84 ± 0.27, 12.78 ± 0.11 and 14.74 ± 0.03% lower than non-rhizosphere soil. Comparison of PAHs content of rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil also indicated that the highest rate of PAH removal was for acenaphthene (74.63 ± 0.78) in control, fluoranthene (71.18 ± 0.56) in 2.5%, and anthracene (69.45 ± 6.33, 55.66 ± 4.38 and 35.97 ± 0.22) in 5.0, 7.5 and 10% oil-contaminated soil and acenaphthene (74.63 ± 0.78) in control. Activities of peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase were more prominent in the roots of plants exposed to increasing concentrations of oil in soil than control plants. Conversely, the activity of superoxide dismutase decreased. These findings render A. marina as a phytoremediation candidate for small scale oil spills and residual oil pollution in coastal marine environments.

Legal Issue Comparison of Piracy and Armed Robbery with Emphasis on the South China Sea-Malacca Strait and the Persian Gulf -Strait of Hormuz

International trading flows have always been the subject of geopolitical risks and conflicts. Different stages of the supply chain, trade always face inherent challenges caused by geopolitical realities along given routes. In this study, the data concerning piracy and armed robberies of ships reported to the Global Integrated Shipping Information System were considered. The statistics include the information on the incidents during the period between 1998 and 2018 on different types of ships, in two most strategic areas, namely the South China Sea (SCS) and the Strait of Malacca (area 1) and the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf (area 2). According to the GISIS reports, most of the incidents occurred in the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca are respectively 1684 and 610. Because of the importance of both the Strait of Hormuz and the Malacca Strait as the most vital waterway in the world, it is necessary to have a clear picture of the security situation in the two aforementioned Strait. This research allowed us: 1) to make a distinction between the security in two aforementioned areas; 2) to represent the source of the information for researchers.

Miocene Argonautidae (Octopoda) from the Persian Gulf area and their palaeogeographic distribution

Cephalopod specimens assigned to the Argonautidae (Obinautilus pulchra Kobayashi, 1954 and an unknown taxon) from two localities of the Mishan Formation in Gohreh and Khorgu sections, Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, are reported for the first time from the Persian Gulf area. The co-existing foraminifera confirm the middle Miocene age of the strata. Based on micropalaeontological data, the previous Oligocene age of Obinautilus pulchra is extended to the middle Miocene. The palaeobiogeographic distribution of the reported Argonautidae shows that the presence of these faunas is limited to the West Pacific, Indo-Pacific and the East Pacific. The present-day distribution of the Argonautidae is similar to the ancient one and seems to be inherited from their ancestors.

First report on polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Iranian Coral Islands: Concentrations, profiles, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment

Coral reefs are challenged by multiple stressors due to the growing industrialization. Despite that, data on their environment are still scarce, and no research is yet performed on polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the Persian Gulf area. Seeking to fill in this gap, the present study aims to determine spatio-vertical distributions, source apportionment and ecological risk of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the sediment cores and seawater samples from ten coral reef Islands in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Σ12PBDEs concentrations ranged from 0.42 ± 0.04 to 47.14 ± 1.35 ng g−1 dw in sediments, and from 1.17 ± 0.06 to 7.21 ± 1.13 ng L−1 in seawater. The vertical polybrominated diphenyl ethers distribution varied significantly among the sampling stations and different depths with a decreasing trend towards the surface and peaks around 12–20 cm. Both in the seawater and sediment samples, elevated polybrominated diphenyl ethers loadings were observed in highly industrialized areas. Deca-bromodiphenyl ether-209 was the predominant congener along the sediment cores, whereas Tetra-bromodiphenyl ether-47 and Penta-bromodiphenyl ether-100 dominated in seawater samples. Commercial Deca-bromodiphenyl ether mixture was found to be the major source of polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Penta-bromodiphenyl ether was revealed to be the major ecological risk driver in the study area: it posed medium to high-risk quotient to sediment dwelling organisms. This study indicated that coral reefs are playing an important role in retaining polybrominated diphenyl ethers and highlighted the need to manage polybrominated diphenyl ethers contamination in the coral reef environment.

Statistical Comparison of piracy and armed robbery with emphasis on the South China Sea - Malacca Strait and the Persian Gulf - Strait of Hormuz

International trading flows have always been the subject of geopolitical risks and conflicts. Different stages of the supply chain, trade always face inherent challenges caused by geopolitical realities along given routes. In this study, the data concerning piracy and armed robberies of ships reported to the Global Integrated Shipping Information System were considered. The statistics include the information on the incidents during the period between 1998 and 2018 on different types of ships, in two most strategic areas, namely the South China Sea (SCS) and the Strait of Malacca (area 1) and the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf (area 2). According to the GISIS reports, most of the incidents occurred in the South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca are respectively 1684 and 610. Because of the importance of both the Strait of Hormuz and the Malacca Strait as the most vital waterway in the world, it is necessary to have a clear picture of the security situation in the two aforementioned Straits. This research allowed us: 1) to make a distinction between the security in two aforementioned areas; 2) to represent the source of the information for researchers.

Annotated species list of Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata) from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, with new records.

Published records on the Ophiuroidea fauna of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman are scattered in difficult to access journals and books. This study presents a compilation of all published records, complemented with data from new samples. Distribution, habitat and depth in the study area, as well as known Indian Ocean distributions, are included. The taxonomic status of all species was evaluated, critical comments were added as applicable, and several previous records were reassigned to other species. Ophiocoma erinaceus was removed from the fauna of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, because the only published record was instead Ophiocoma schoenleinii. Previous studies assumed that 46 species of brittle star were known from the study area, but only 38 species were confirmed by this re-assessment, including two new records (Ophiothrix (Ophiothrix) foveolata and Ophiocomella sexradia). Diagnostic features are supplied for difficult to distinguish species. Five species (Macrophiothrix elongata, Amphiura fasciata, Amphiura (Ophiopeltis) hexactis, Amphioplus echinulatus, and Amphioplus seminudus) are so far worldwide known only from the Persian Gulf area. A hexamerous, fissiparous species of Ophiothela that does not concur with any known species was found and may represent a new species. All newly collected species are illustrated with photographs.

Historical sedimentary deposition and ecotoxicological impact of aromatic biomarkers in sediment cores from ten coral reefs of the Persian Gulf, Iran

The present study determines the levels, vertical distributions, source apportionment and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ten sediment cores of coral reef in the Persian Gulf, Iran, one of the important oil polluted marine areas in the world. The main purpose of this study was to determine the spatio-vertical distribution pattern of PAHs pollution at the four hot spot zones on the Gulf: dense industrial, medium industrial, urbanized and non-impacted zones over the past few years. Sediment quality and ecological risk were also assessed in order to determine the pollutants of concern. In detail, 23 parent (PPAHs) and 16 alkylated PAHs (APAHs), along with retene and perylene, were determined in sediment cores (0–40 cm depth). The vertical distribution of all PAHs showed a wide variation among sampling stations and depths, with a decreasing trend of concentration from surface to bottom, and a peak at 12 cm. Total concentrations of PPAHs and APAHs ranged from 35 to 1927 ng g−1 dw and 19 to 1794 ng g−1 dw respectively, with the highest concentrations at the industrial zone. The diagnostic ratio for PAHs and perylene (3 to 1277 ng g−1 dw) indicated mixed sources of PAHs, with dominance of petrogenic origins at the industrial zone and natural diagenetic inputs, respectively. The PAH concentration depicted a significant decreasing trend along the length of the core with an abrupt increase within the core length 12–20 cm. Temporal variations in contaminants can be linked to economic, coastal developments and industrial growth. Overall, the baseline data on geographical distribution, congener profiles, sources and vertical deposition of PAHs in the Persian Gulf area would be useful to establish proper monitoring plans for this sensitive ecosystem.

Exploiting selective angular properties of retro-reflective coatings to mitigate solar irradiation within the urban canyon

The combination of urban sprawl and densification in built areas increases the number of interbuilding solar reflections. This contributes to over warming in urban environments – a phenomenon known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect. During the last decades, the exploitation of cool materials, such as high-reflective (HR) and retro-reflective (RR) coatings, has been proposed to mitigate UHIs. In this context, this work is a part of the wider research focused on the investigation of a new concept for surface treatments, which consists of RR materials enhanced with an angular-selective behavior. This research study aims at evaluating the application of the selective angular properties to assess solar irradiance impinging urban canyons’ surfaces in different climatic contexts, from the Arctic to the Persian Gulf area. First, the geometry configurations receiving the largest solar energy contribution were defined by varying the canyon’s orientation and height-to-width ratio. Second, yearly and seasonal solar analyses were conducted considering traditional and angular-selective RR materials applied to the façade and the street. The outcomes show that angular-selective RR materials can activate the mitigation potential of these materials only during the warm season, when the risk of UHI is higher without hindering solar energy contribution in cold months. In fact, optimized RR turns out to be efficient at all latitudes considered and reduced the yearly solar irradiation impinging canyon’s surfaces by up to 20%, 30%, and 50% in Oslo, Milan, and Cairo, respectively.

A lag of 44 years: presence of Epinephelus lanceolatus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Epinephelidae) from the Persian Gulf

An old stuffed specimen of the giant grouper, Epinephelus lanceolatus (Bloch, 1790) (2000 mm TL), was recovered during the relocation of the artefacts of the Basrah Natural History Museum, University of Basrah, Iraq recently. The specimen was collected 44 years ago in 1974 by a gillnet in the Shatt al-Arab Estuary, Basrah, Iraq. So far, this species is known to have no records from the Persian Gulf area. The present report is important in recording E. lanceolatus from the estuary of the Shatt al-Arab River and is considered new for both the Iraqi and the Persian Gulf waters. Our finding brings to light an amazing example of invasion lag.

Jurassic Biostratigraphy in the Persian Gulf, South of Iran

The Neyriz, Surmeh and Hith Formations outcrop in the Persian Gulf area. Assemblages of benthic foraminifera and green algae were studied in 789 meters from these formations in the onshore middle part of the Persian Gulf, South of Iran. These formations consist of grey shales, dolomite, limestone and anhydrite. The Neyriz andHith formations are barren of fossils and the age of Neyriz Formation is Early Jurassic and the age of Hith Formation is Late Jurassic (Tithonian) based on stratigraphy. In the Surmeh Formation 18 genera and 17 species of benthic foraminifera, 5 genera and 3 species of algae, one genus of bivalve and one genus of crinoid have been determined. Five biozones are defined based on the microfossil distribution, and consist of the Lithiotis Range zone, Pfenderina Range zone, Trocholina palastinensis-Trocholina Assemblage zone, Kurnubia jurassica Interval zone and the Clypeina jurassica zone. Diagnostic larger benthic foraminifera indicate a Toarcian to Tithonian age for the Surmeh Formation in this part of the Persian Gulf Basin.

Recently diverged killifishes: Morphometry and caudal skeleton osteology of two members of the Aphanius dispar species group (Aphaniidae, Teleostei)

Recently diverged killifishes: Morphometry and caudal skeleton osteology of two members of the Aphanius dispar species group (Aphaniidae, Teleostei)

From Scarcity to Abundance: The New Geopolitics of Energy

For most of the Petroleum Age, and even as recently as ten years ago, the politics of energy were largely governed by perceptions of scarcity: the assumption that global supplies of most primary fuels were finite and would eventually prove insufficient to satisfy rising worldwide demand, resulting in intense competition over what remained. The enduring prevalence of this view led many oil-importing nations to establish close ties with their major foreign suppliers and to employ force on occasion to ensure the safety of overseas supply lines. This outlook guided American foreign policy for over half a century, resulting in several U.S. interventions in the Persian Gulf area. Recently, however, a combination of technological and political considerations – the introduction of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) to extract oil and natural gas from previously inaccessible shale formations on one hand and rising concern over climate change on the other – has largely extinguished the perception of scarcity, introducing entirely new dynamics into the geopolitics of energy.

The eu-Energy Security and Geopolitical Economy

AbstractAlthough energy supply security is an important long-term goal of theeu, member states are in control over external supplies and their domestic energy mix, and an overarching institutional structure is lacking. In this paper, we focus on the availability of oil and gas and the risks of supply disruptions for theeu. The last two decades have been marked by a decrease in fossil fuel production and increasing import dependence. Proven oil and gas reserves in theeuare very limited. Especially in the case of oil the outlook of both global and owneureserves looks bleak. At the same time, global trends show an increasing demand for energy in the coming decades, concentrated mainly in developing countries, specifically in China. The Persian Gulf area and the Caspian Sea region hold some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, and these will make them increasingly significant in global markets. These factors create a setting for theeuof demand- and supply-induced and structural scarcity. The persistence of Arab patrimonial rentier states and societies are a domestic and geopolitical source of instability. These states’ Sovereign Wealth Funds are used by ruling elites to divert assets from socioeconomic development towards individual profit. Emerging Asian economies involved in themeand thecea, especially China, will influence the regions’ future geopolitical and geo-economic reality. China relies on resources for domestic development and the resource-rich Middle Eastern countries have long been a destination from which to acquire them.

Geopolitical and environmental study of artificial islands in the Persian Gulf (from the perspective of international law)

According to the Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, constructing artificial island is permitted and countries can construct artificial islands in their own territory. Constructing artificial islands in the Persian Gulf area makes the countries in the region, especially Iran, to pursue the issue with more sensitivity. According to data dissemination principle of International Environmental Law, the countries that construct artificial islands should notify other states regarding construction and properties of their own artificial islands. Today, artificial island construction is being increased and this has caused many environmental crises including increase of water darkness and pollution and transport of coastal sediments. In this study, the destructive results of constructing artificial islands in the Persian Gulf environment, the effect of development of new land space from geopolitical view, and also constructing artificial islands from the viewpoint of International Law of the seas are being reviewed. Moreover, according to the fact that the notion of governance in modern International Law have been modified regarding the use of environment and sustainable development, the states will have limited right to construct artificial islands.

Geopolitical and Environmental Study of Artificial Islands in the Persian Gulf (From the Perspective of International Law)

According to the Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, constructing artificial islands is permitted and countries can construct artificial islands in their own territory. Constructing artificial islands in the Persian Gulf area makes the countries in the region, especially Iran, to pursue the issue with more sensitivity. According to the data dissemination principle of International Environmental Law, the countries that construct artificial islands should notify other states regarding the construction and properties of their own artificial islands. Today, artificial island construction is being increased and this has caused many environmental crises including an increase of water darkness and pollution and transport of coastal sediments. In this study, the destructive results of constructing artificial islands in the Persian Gulf environment, the effect of the development of new land space from geopolitical view, and also constructing artificial islands from the viewpoint of International Law of the seas are being reviewed. Moreover, according to the fact that the notion of governance in modern International Law has been modified regarding the use of the environment and sustainable development, the states will have a limited right to construct artificial islands.