A Numerical Study of the Frontal System between the Inflow and Outflow Waters in the Persian Gulf

Authors

1 Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran 1477893855, Iran

2 Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417614418, Iran

3 Department of Physical Oceanography, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, Tehran 1987973133, Iran

Abstract

In this study the dynamical characteristics of the salinity front between the Persian Gulf inflow and outflow were studied using the HYCOM numerical model. This model was integrated for 5 years from the beginning of 2011 to the end of 2015and the results of 2015 were discussed. The results of the model clearly showed seasonal variations in the salinity front in which the intrusion of the salinity front extends much farther into the Persian Gulf in summer. The salinity front appears to be prone to baroclinic instability with maximum intensity in spring and summer months (with a strong density stratification), forming cyclonic eddies (saline center) and anticyclones (sweeter center), that peaks in August. Results showed that some anti-cascade processes occur in mesoscale eddy activity, in agreement with the quasi-two-dimensional turbulence behavior. Spectral analysis of salinity time series in the front showed eddies with time scales ranging from a few hours to about 3 months. The result also showed that there was a reasonable relation between mixed layer depth and the formation of mesoscale eddies, so that mesoscale eddies disappeared when the thickness of mixed layer was increased in winter.

Keywords

Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics
Volume 12, Issue 5
September 2019
Pages 1475-1486

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