Climatological evaporation seasonality in the northern Red Sea

Eshel, Gidon; Heavens, N. G.

doi:10.1029/2006pa001365

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Sofianos et al [2002] estimated an annual mean evaporation rate of ∼2 m yr −1 for the Red Sea. Matsoukas et al [2007], using a radiation transfer model, estimated an annual evaporation rate of 2.1 ± 0.3 m yr −1 for the Red Sea, and a similar value was estimated for the northern Red Sea by Eshel and Heavens [2007]. These studies support an evaporation rate closer to ∼2 m yr −1 for the gulf unlike the commonly cited value of ∼3.5-4 m yr −1 that was estimated by Assaf and Kessler [1976].…”

Section: Appendix B: Surface Fluxesmentioning

(Expert classified)

The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) revisited: The interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes

Biton¹,

Gildor²

2011

J. Geophys. Res.

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] The Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) is a terminal elongated basin that exchanges water with the northern Red Sea via the Straits of Tiran. The gulf's hydrography exhibits strong seasonal variability, with deep mixing during February-March and stable stratification afterward. We use an oceanic model to investigate the annual cycle of the general circulation and hydrographic conditions in the gulf. We demonstrate that on a subannual time scale, the general circulation deviates from the standard depiction of inverse estuarine circulation. During the restratification season (April-August), the exchange flux with the northern Red Sea is maximal and is driven by density differences between the basins, while atmospheric fluxes actually counteract this exchange flow. The observed warming of the surface layer is mainly due to advection of warm water from the northern Red Sea, with a smaller contribution from surface heating. During the mixing season (September-March), the exchange flux and the advection of heat are minimal and atmospheric fluxes drive convection rather than the exchange flow. We estimate the seasonality of the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran. The seasonal variability in the exchange flow is large and ranges from 0.04 Sv during early spring to 0.005 Sv during early winter.Citation: Biton, E., and H. Gildor (2011), The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) revisited: The interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes,

show abstract

Section: Appendix B: Surface Fluxesmentioning

(Expert classified)

The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) revisited: The interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes

Biton¹,

Gildor²

2011

J. Geophys. Res.

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This result was expected since, in the Red Sea, salinity changes linearly along the north–south latitudinal gradient. Published datasets show that salinity in the Red Sea is relatively stable among years (Roik et al, ); nevertheless, oscillation in salinity can occur seasonally during the year as result of evaporation rates, precipitations and mixing of low saline surface inflow from Gulf of Aden (Eshel & Heavens, ; Sofianos, Johns, & Murray, ). Monitoring physio‐chemical variables for three reefs in the central Red Sea across 2 years, Roik et al () show that although salinity oscillations occur seasonally (up to 1.43), they are smaller in comparison to other reef systems affected by riverine and precipitation inputs, such as on inshore reefs in the Great Barrier Reef, where salinity can fluctuate from five to ten (Roik et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent studies showed association of P. lutea, P. lobata and P. harrisoni with C. thermophilum symbionts in the southern Arabian Gulf where SST (36°C) and salinity (42) (Roik et al, 2016); nevertheless, oscillation in salinity can occur seasonally during the year as result of evaporation rates, precipitations and mixing of low saline surface inflow from Gulf of Aden (Eshel & Heavens, 2007;Sofianos, Johns, & Murray, 2002).…”

Section: Symbiodiniaceae Biogeography Across Red Sea Gradientsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental latitudinal gradients and host‐specificity shape Symbiodiniaceae distribution in Red Sea Porites corals

Terraneo

Fusi

Hume

et al. 2019

Journal of Biogeography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim The aim of the study was to assess the diversity of algal symbionts of the family Symbiodiniaceae associated with the coral genus Porites in the Red Sea, and to test for host‐specificity and environmental variables driving biogeographical patterns of algal symbiont distribution. Location Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Taxon Endosymbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae in association with the reef‐building coral genus Porites. Methods Eighty Porites coral specimens were collected along the Saudi Arabian Red Sea coast. Species boundaries were assessed morphologically and genetically (putative Control Region – mtCR; ITS region – ITS). Community composition of symbiotic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae was also assessed. Using the ITS2 marker with the SymPortal framework, Symbiodiniaceae data at the genus, majority ITS2 sequence and ITS2 type profile were used to assess symbiont diversity and distribution patterns. These were analysed in relation to coral host diversity, geographic location and environmental variables. Results Among the 80 Porites samples, 10 morphologies were identified. These corals were clustered into five lineages (clades I–V) by each of the markers independently. Clades I, II and III each comprised of a single Porites morphology, while clades IV and V contained up to five distinct morphologies. The diversity of Symbiodiniaceae associated with Porites was high and latitudinal differentiation was observed. In particular, a shift from a Cladocopium‐dominated to a Durusdinium‐dominated community was found along the north–south gradient. Symbiont diversity showed the patterns of geographic‐specific association at Symbiodiniaceae genus, majority ITS2 sequence and ITS2 type profile level. Specific associations with host genotypes (but not morphological species) were also recovered when considering Symbiodiniaceae majority ITS2 sequence and ITS2 type profiles. Main conclusions This study provides the first large‐scale molecular characterization of Symbiodiniaceae communities associated with Porites corals from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea. The use of intragenomic diversity data enabled the resolution of host‐symbiont specificity and biogeographical patterns of distribution, previously unachievable with the ITS2 marker alone. Finally, correlation among symbiont diversity and Red Sea environmental gradients was documented.

show abstract

“…The Red Sea, a semienclosed marginal sea of the Indian Ocean located between 12 • N and 30 • N, is one of the saltiest and warmest water bodies on Earth and a primary source of high salinity waters for the oceanic intermediate layer (e.g., Beal et al, 2000;Han & McCreary, 2001). Intense air-sea interactions characterize the Red Sea, which has one of the highest evaporation rates of the global oceans, with an annual mean of 2.06 ± 0.22 m/year (Bower & Farrar, 2015;Eshel & Heavens, 2007;Sofianos et al, 2002;Tragou et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaporative Implications of Dry‐Air Outbreaks Over the Northern Red Sea

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We investigate the impacts of westward wind events on the Red Sea evaporation using the 35‐year second Modern‐Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications reanalysis and a 2‐year‐long record of in situ observations from a heavily instrumented air‐sea interaction mooring. These events are common during boreal winter, and their effects are similar to cold‐air outbreaks that occur in midpolar and subpolar latitudes. They cause extreme heat loss from the sea, which is dominated by latent heat fluxes. Different from cold‐air outbreaks, the intensified heat loss is due to the low relative humidity as we show through latent heat flux decomposition. Rainfall is negligible during these events, and we refer to them as dry‐air outbreaks. We also investigate the general atmospheric circulation pattern that favors their occurrence, which is associated with an intensified Arabian High at the north‐central portion of the Arabian Peninsula—a feature that seems to be an extension of the Siberian High. The analyses reveal that the westward winds over the northern Red Sea and the winter Shamal winds in the Persian Gulf are very likely to be part of the same subsynoptic‐scale feature. The second Modern‐Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications reanalysis indicates that the occurrence of westward wind events over the northern Red Sea has grown from 1980 to 2015, especially the frequency of large‐scale events, the cause of which is to be investigated. We hypothesize that dry‐air outbreaks may induce surface water mass transformation in the surface Red Sea Eastern Boundary Current and could represent a significant process for the oceanic thermohaline‐driven overturning circulation.

show abstract

Climatological evaporation seasonality in the northern Red Sea

Cited by 13 publications

References 29 publications

The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) revisited: The interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes

The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) revisited: The interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes

Environmental latitudinal gradients and host‐specificity shape Symbiodiniaceae distribution in Red Sea Porites corals

Evaporative Implications of Dry‐Air Outbreaks Over the Northern Red Sea

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About