Spreading and mixing of the Persian Gulf Water in the Northern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Spreading of the Persian Gulf Watermass in the intermediate layers and the process of mixing of this watermass as it spreads into the Arabian Sea have been studied from the distribution of salinity, thermosteric anomaly and density flux function in the vertical; spreading is also studied through the salinity and topography of the core layer. This watermass spreads mainly southerly and the core of this watermass deepens as it spreads southward. Vertical mixing is predominant between 100 and 400 m and horizontal mixing in the upper layers. The presence of the Red Sea Watermass is totally absent in the area studied.