A HYCOM modeling study of the Persian Gulf: 2. Formation and export of Persian Gulf Water

Yao, Fengchao; Johns, William E.

doi:10.1029/2009jc005788

Cited by 54 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…In water bodies that are as shallow as the Gulf, the water mixed layer and atmospheric mixed layer are of comparable heat content, and the two components of a coupled system evolve simultaneously with significant two-way interactions. Previous regional modeling studies either used specified surface fluxes to simulate the hydrodynamics of the Gulf (Chao et al 1992; Kämpf and Sadrinasab 2006;Sadrinasab and Kämpf 2004;Thoppil and Hogan 2010;Yao and Johns 2010a;Yao and Johns 2010b;Hassanzadeh et al 2011;Hassanzadeh et al 2012) or prescribed SST in simulating the regional atmospheric climate (Evans et al 2004;Marcella andEltahir 2008, 2012). Because of the shallow nature of this water body, neither of these two approaches is suitable for addressing the above questions or projecting future climate in this region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of the Heat and Water Budgets of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Using a Regional Climate Model*,+

Xue

Eltahir

2015

Journal of Climate

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Because of the scarcity of observational data, existing estimates of the heat and water budgets of the Persian Gulf are rather uncertain. This uncertainty leaves open the fundamental question of whether this water body is a net heat source or a net heat sink to the atmosphere. Previous regional modeling studies either used specified surface fluxes to simulate the hydrodynamics of the Gulf or prescribed SST in simulating the regional atmospheric climate; neither of these two approaches is suitable for addressing the above question or for projecting the future climate in this region. For the first time, a high-resolution, two-way, coupled Gulf-atmosphere regional model (GARM) is developed, forced by solar radiation and constrained by observed lateral boundary conditions, suited for the study of current and future climates of the Persian Gulf. Here, this study demonstrates the unique capability of this model in consistently predicting surface heat and water fluxes and lateral heat and water exchanges with the Arabian Sea, as well as the variability of water temperature and water mass. Although these variables are strongly coupled, only SST has been directly and sufficiently observed. The coupled model succeeds in simulating the water and heat budgets of the Persian Gulf without any artificial flux adjustment, as demonstrated in the close agreement of model simulation with satellite and in situ observations.The coupled regional climate model simulates a net surface heat flux of 13 W m 22 , suggesting a small net heat flux from the atmosphere into the Persian Gulf. The annual evaporation from the Persian Gulf is 1.84 m yr 21 , and the annual influx and outflux of water through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea are equivalent to Persian Gulf-averaged precipitation and evaporation rates of 33.7 and 32.1 m yr 21 , with a net influx of water equivalent to a Persian Gulf-averaged precipitation rate of 1.6 m yr 21. The average depth of the Persian Gulf water is ;38 m. Hence, it suggests that the mean residency time scale for the entire Persian Gulf is ;14 months.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of the Heat and Water Budgets of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Using a Regional Climate Model*,+

Xue

Eltahir

2015

Journal of Climate

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“…A stronger westward and eastward currents situated in the upper and bottom layer, respectively, are simulated in the narrow transect near the Strait of Hormuz (Figure c), which is similar to findings by Johns et al . [] and Yao and Johns []. In summer, the modeled westward inflow current becomes stronger.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of circulation in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman: Skill assessment and seasonal thermohaline structure

Azhar

Temimi²,

Zhao³

et al. 2016

JGR Oceans

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Hindcast simulations of the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) are quantitatively evaluated with basin‐wide hydrographic data and time series measurements. The model shows comparable skill in reproducing moored observations of current velocities structure in upper and bottom depths. The skill in simulating observed temperature is higher of 0.93 (scale 0–1) in upper depths compared to 0.52 in bottom depths. Model results are sensitive to parameterization of water clarity. A lower sensitivity was noticed to KPP, GLS, and MY2.5 turbulence closures. When coastal turbid water parameterization is used, accuracy of the model in reproducing seasonal and spatial variations of temperature and salinity increased by 25% compared to the clear water case whereas only 10% increase was noticed when applying KPP turbulent closure. The model reproduces well anticlockwise circulation in the Gulf. A stronger surface inflow of fresher water to the Arabian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is simulated in summer compared to winter conditions, mainly due to upper layer horizontal gradient of density between the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Less seasonal variability of outflow between 0.15 and 0.20 m s−1 at 50 m to bottom depth around the Strait of Hormuz was noticed in the model results. Modeled surface layer stratification is stronger in summer than winter and varies spatially in the Arabian Gulf with highest stratification near the Strait of Hormuz. Overall, the stratification in shallow water area of the Arabian Gulf remains low throughout the year.

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“…Other and more recent model studies find a seasonal cycle of weaker outflows in winter and stronger outflows in summer (Chao et al, ; Elhakeem et al, ; Kämpf & Sadrinasab, ; Pous et al, ; Yao & Johns, ). In addition, the measurements of Johns et al () show episodic salinity pulses in the outflow from March to July 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…Another question we want to answer is the question of the composition of the PGW. Previous studies discussed the origin of the PGW, which is known to mainly form in the north and in the south (Swift & Bower, 2003;Yao & Johns, 2010b) with highest densities found in winter in the north. The southern shallows form dense water in autumn and winter, which reaches the Strait of Hormuz in late winter and spring (Kämpf & Sadrinasab, 2006), while the water from the north is steady over the whole year (Yao & Johns, 2010b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Study of the Exchange Flow of the Persian Gulf Using an Extended Total Exchange Flow Analysis Framework

2020

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The Total Exchange Flow analysis framework computes consistent bulk values quantifying the estuarine exchange flow using salinity coordinates since salinity is the main contributor to density in estuaries and the salinity budget is entirely controlled by the exchange flow. For deeper and larger estuaries temperature may contribute equally or even more to the density. That is why we included potential temperature as a second coordinate to the Total Exchange Flow analysis framework, which allows gaining insights in the potential temperature‐salinity structure of the exchange flow as well as to compute consistent bulk potential temperature and therefore heat exchange values with the ocean. We applied this theory to the exchange flow of the Persian Gulf, a shallow, semienclosed marginal sea, where dominant evaporation leads to the formation of hypersaline and dense Gulf water. This drives an inverse estuarine circulation which is analyzed with special interest on the seasonal cycle of the exchange flow. The exchange flow of the Persian Gulf is numerically simulated with the General Estuarine Transport Model from 1993 to 2016 and validated against observations. Results show that a clear seasonal cycle exists with stronger exchange flow rates in the first half of the year. Furthermore, the composition of the outflowing water is investigated using passive tracers, which mark different surface waters. The results show that in the first half of the year, most outflowing water comes from the southern coast, while in the second half most water originates from the northwestern region.

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A HYCOM modeling study of the Persian Gulf: 2. Formation and export of Persian Gulf Water

Cited by 54 publications

References 16 publications

Estimation of the Heat and Water Budgets of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Using a Regional Climate Model*,+

Estimation of the Heat and Water Budgets of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf Using a Regional Climate Model*,+

Modeling of circulation in the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman: Skill assessment and seasonal thermohaline structure

Numerical Study of the Exchange Flow of the Persian Gulf Using an Extended Total Exchange Flow Analysis Framework

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