An Observational and Numerical Modeling of Thermocline Development in the Persian Gulf

Abstract

An observational and numerical (Princeton Ocean Model) study of the summer thermocline development in the Persian Gulf (PG) shows that as the northwesterly cold winter wind weakens and become warmer, the fresher inflow from Oman Sea penetrates much further into the PG. This is also associated with stronger solar radiation leading to the near surface thermocline development over the whole of the PG. For more realistic monthly averaged wind, the thermocline develops as is indicated by observations. This is particularly marked in the deeper central part in which it grows in depth about 0.2(m) per day. The formation of thermocline decreases the dissolved oxygen in water column due to induced stratification. Over the PG the temperature difference between surface and subsurface increases exponentially from March until May when it levels off, with similar smaller variations for salinity differences than observed.

Keywords:

• Persian Gulf
• thermocline development
• Princeton Ocean Model
• wind