Abstract
The Red Sea experiences strong atmospheric forcing through both wind stress and air–sea buoyancy fluxes. Direct observations and modeling experiment show a robust response that consists of a strong and complicated three-dimensional circulation pattern with intense seasonal variability, involving water masses that are locally formed in the Red Sea or enter it from adjacent basins. Two thermohaline cells are identified related to intermediate (Red Sea Outflow Water—RSOW) and deepwater (Red Sea Deep Water—RSDW) formation processes. Results from numerical simulations indicate that the permanent cyclonic gyre in the northern end of the basin is the most probable location for the RSOW formation to take place, but further investigation with observations and numerical modeling techniques is needed to better understand the processes involved as well as the role of the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba in the regional thermohaline circulation. The Red Sea circulation is closely linked to the flow pattern in the Strait of Bab-al-Mandab where the exchange of the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean takes place. The exchange is of an inverse estuarine type, which compensates for the strong heat and freshwater fluxes in the basin, but with very strong seasonal and synoptic variability related to remote and local forcing. Although important progress has been achieved during the last two decades in describing and understanding basic processes of the Red Sea dynamics, several features are not yet understood and explained. Further observational and modeling activities are required to improve our understanding of these processes and should be combined in an interdisciplinary approach to improve our monitoring and forecasting capabilities for environmental management and protection.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ahmad F, Sultan SAR (1987) On the heat terms in the central region of the Red Sea. Deep Sea Res 34:1757–1760
Ahmad F, Sultan SAR (1989) Surface heat fluxes and their comparison with the oceanic heat flow in the Red Sea. Oceanol Acta 12:33–36
Alraddadi TM (2013) Temporal changes in the Red Sea circulation and associated water masses. University of Southampton, Doctoral thesis, Ocean and Earth Science, 198 pp
Anati DA (1976) Balance and transports in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba). Israel J Earth Sci 25:104–110
Armi L, Farmer DM (1988) The flow of Atlantic water through the Strait of Gibraltar. Prog Oceanogr 21:1–105
Biton E, Gildor H (2011) The general circulation of the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eliat) revisited: the interplay between the exchange flow through the Straits of Tiran and surface fluxes. J Geophys Res 116:C08020. doi:10.1029/2010JC006860
Cember RP (1988) On the sources, formation, and circulation of Red Sea Deep Water. J Geophys Res 93:8175–8191
Clifford M, Horton C, Schmitz J, Kantha LH (1997) An oceanographic nowcast/forecast system for the Red Sea. J Geophys Res 102:25101–25122
Farmer DM, Armi L (1988) The flow of Mediterranean water through the Strait of Gibraltar. Prog Oceanogr 21:1–105
Hecht A, Anati D (1983) A description of the Straits of Tiran in winter 1978. Israel J Earth Sci 32:149–164
Johns WE, Sofianos SS (2012) Atmospherically forced exchange through the Bab el Mandeb Strait. J Phys Oceanogr 42:1143–1157
Klinker J, Reiss Z, Kropach C, Levanon I, Harpaz H, Halicz E, Assaf G (1976) Observations on the circulation pattern in the Gulf of Elat (Aqaba), Red Sea. Israel J Earth Sci 25:85–103
Kuntz R (1985) Bestimmung der Tiefenwasserzirkulation des Roten Meeres anhand einer Boxmodellauswertung von Tritium-, 3He- und Dalinitatsdaten. Ph.D. thesis, Ruprecht Karls University, Heidelberg, 76 pp
Maillard C (1974) Eaux intermediaires et formation d’eau profonde en Mer Rouge. L’oceanographie physique de la Mer Rouge. Cent. Natl. pour l’Exploitation des Oceans, Paris, pp 105–133
Maillard C, Soliman G (1986) Hydrography of the Red Sea and exchanges with the Indian Ocean in summer. Oceanol Acta 9:249–269
Manasrah RS, Badran M, Lass HU, Fennel W (2004) Circulation and the winter deep-water formation in the northern Red Sea. Oceanologia 46:5–23
Morcos SA (1970) Physical and chemical oceanography of the Red Sea. Oceanogr Mar Biol Ann Rev 8:73–202
Morcos S, Soliman GF (1974) Circulation and deep water formation in the northern Red Sea in winter (based on R/V Mabahiss sections, January-February, 1935). L’oceanographie physique de la Mer Rouge. Cent. Natl. pour l’Exploitation des Oceans, Paris, pp 91–103
Murray S, Hecht A, Babcock A (1984) On the mean flow in the Tiran Strait in winter. J Mar Res 42:265–284
Murray SP, Johns W (1997) Direct observations of seasonal exchange through the Bab el Mandeb Strait. Geophys Res Lett 24:2557–2560
Neumann J (1952) Evaporation from the Red Sea. Israel Explor J 2:153–162
Neumann AC, McGill DA (1962) Circulation of the Red Sea in early summer. Deep Sea Res 8:223–235
Patzert WC (1974a) Wind-induced reversal in Red Sea circulation. Deep Sea Res 21:109–121
Patzert WC (1974b) Volume and heat transports between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, notes on the Red Sea heat budget. L’oceanographie physique de la Mer Rouge. CNEXO, Paris, pp 191–201
Pedgley DE (1974) An outline of the weather and climate of the Red Sea. L’Oceanographie Physique de la Mer Rouge. Cent. Natl. pour l’Exploitation des Oceans, Paris, pp 9–27
Phillips OM (1966) On turbulent convection currents and the circulation of the Red Sea. Deep Sea Res 13:1149–1160
Pratt LJ, Johns W, Murray SM, Katsumata K (1999) Hydraulic interpretation of direct velocity measurements in the Bab al Mandab. J Phys Oceanogr 29:2769–2784
Pratt LJ, Deese HE, Murray SP, Johns W (2000) Continuous dynamical modes in straits having arbitrary cross sections, with applications to the Bab al Mandab. J Phys Oceanogr 30(10):2515–2534
Privett DW (1959) Monthly charts of evaporation from the Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf). Q J Royal Meteorol Soc 85:424–428
Quadfasel D, Baunder H (1993) Gyre-scale circulation cells in the Red Sea. Oceanol Acta 16:221–229
Sewell RBS (1934) The John Murray expedition to the Arabian Sea. Nature 133:86–89
Siedler G (1968) Schichtungs- und Bewegungsverhaltnisse am Sudausgang des Roten Meeres. Meteor Forschungsergeb A 4:1–76
Smeed D (1997) Seasonal variation of the flow in the strait of Bab el Mandeb. Oceanol Acta 20:773–781
Smeed DA (2004) Exchange through the Bab el Mandab. Deep Sea Res Part II 51:455–474
Sofianos SS (2000) Circulation and water mass formation in the Red Sea, and the exchange with the Indian Ocean. Ph.D. thesis, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
Sofianos SS, Johns WE, Murray SP (2002) Heat and freshwater budgets in the Red Sea from direct observations at Bab el-Mandeb. Deep Sea Res Part II 49:1323–1340
Sofianos SS, Johns WE (2002) An Oceanic General Circulation Model (OGCM) investigation of the Red Sea circulation: 1. Exchange between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. J Geophys Res 107(C11):3196. doi:10.1029/2001JC001184
Sofianos SS, Johns WE (2003) An Oceanic General Circulation Model (OGCM) investigation of the Red Sea circulation: 2. Three dimensional circulation in the Red Sea. J Geophys Res 108(C3):3066. doi:10.1029/2001JC001185
Sofianos S, Johns WE (2007) Observations of the summer Red Sea circulation. J Geophys Res 112:C06025. doi:10.1029/2006JC003886
Thompson EF (1939) Chemical and physical investigations. The exchange of water between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden over the ‘‘Sill’’. John Murray expedition 1933–34, vol 2, Scientific Reports, 105 pp
Tragou E, Garrett C, Outerbridge R, Gilman G (1999) The heat and freshwater budgets of the Red Sea. J Phys Oceanogr 29:2504–2522
Vercelli E (1927) Richerche di oceanografia fisica eseguite della R. N. AMMIRAGLIO MAGNAGHI (1923–24), IV, La temperatura e la salinita. Ann Idrograf 11:1–66
Vercelli E (1931a) Nuove richerche sulli correnti marine nel Mar Rosso. Annali Idrografici 12:1–74
Vercelli E (1931b) Le esplorazioni talassografiche nel Mar Rosso. Atti del Primo Congresso di Studi Coloniali, Firenze, 23 pp
Werner F, Lange K (1975) A bathymetric survey of the sill area between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Geologisches Jahrbuch D 13:125–130
Woelk S, Quadfasel D (1996) Renewal of deep water in the Red Sea during 1982–1987. J Geophys Res 101:18155–18165
Wyrtki K (1974) On the deep circulation of the Red Sea. L’oceanographie physique de la Mer Rouge. Cent. Natl. pour l’Exploitation des Oceans, Paris, pp 135–163
Yegorov NI (1950) Calculation of the heat balance of the Red Sea. Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya 3:49–56
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Sofianos, S., Johns, W.E. (2015). Water Mass Formation, Overturning Circulation, and the Exchange of the Red Sea with the Adjacent Basins. In: Rasul, N., Stewart, I. (eds) The Red Sea. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1_20
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45200-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45201-1
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)