Abstract
Seasonal changes of tide signal(s), temperature, salinity and current were studied during the years 2004-2005 in the northernmost Gulf of Aqaba, which is under developmental activities, to obtain scientific bases for best management and sustainability. Spectrum analysis revealed permanent signals of tide measurements during all seasons, which represented semidiurnal and diurnal barotropic tides. The other signal periods of 8.13, 6.10-6.32, 4.16 and 1.02-1.05 h were not detected in all seasons, which were related to shallow water compound and overtides of principle solar and lunar constituent and to seiches generated in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, salinity and density showed significant differences between months in the coastal and offshore region and no significant differences among the coastal sites, between the surface and bottom waters and between coastal and offshore waters. Therefore, the temporal and spatial variation of water properties in the northernmost Gulf of Aqaba behave similarly compared to other parts. The coastal current below 12 m depth was weak (3-6 cms-1) and fluctuated from east-northeastward to west-southwestward (parallel to the shoreline), which may be related to the effect of bottom topography and/or current density due to differential cooling between eastern and western parts in the study area, and windinduced upwelling and downwelling in the eastern and western side, respectively. The prevailing northerly winds and stratification conditions during summer were the main causes of the southward current at 6 and 12 m depths with average speed of 28 and 12 cms-1, respectively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Najjar, T. 2000. The seasonal dynamics and grazing control of phyto- and mesozooplankton in the northern Gulf of Aqaba. Ph.D. thesis, Bremen University, Germany.
Al-Sokhny, K. J. 2001. Biogeochemical Cycles of Nutrients and chlorophyll a in relation to coastal current in Jordanian water of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. M.S. thesis, Yarmook University, Irbid, Jordan.
Badran, M. 1996. Nutrient chemistry and UV absorption characteristics of waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales, Bangon, U.K.
Badran, M., R. Manasrah, and M. Rasheed. 2006. Sea-water seasonal changes at a heavy tourism investment site on the Jordanian northern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Chem. Ecol.,22, 425–435. doi: 10.1080/02757540600917344.
Badran, M., M. Rasheed, R. Manasrah, and T. Al-Najjar. 2005. Nutrient flux, fuel of the summer primary productivity in the oligotrophic waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Oceanologia,47(1), 47–60.
Badran, M.I. 2001. Dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and nutrient: Seasonal cycles in waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Manage.,4(2), 139–150.
Badran, M.I. and P. Foster. 1998. Environmental quality of the Jordanian coastal waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Aquat. Ecosyst. Health Manage.,1, 75–89.
Berman, T., N. Paldor, and S. Brenner. 2000. Simulation of winddriven circulation in the Gulf of (Aqaba).J. Mar. Syst.,26, 349–365.
Berman, T., N. Paldor, and S. Brenner. 2002. The Seasonality of tidal circulation in the Gulf of. Elat (Aqaba).Isr. J. Earth. Sci.,52, 11–19.
Brenner, S., Z. Rosentroub, and Y. Bishop. 1988. Current measurements in the Gulf of Elat. Report H3/88. Isr. Oceanogr. Limnol. Res.
Brenner, S., Z. Rosentroub and Y. Bishop. 1989. Current measurem e nt s in the Gulf of Elat 1988/89. Report H8/89. Isr. Oceanogr. Limnol. Res.
Brenner, S., Z. Rosentroub and Y. Bishop. 1991. Current measurements in the Gulf of Elat 1990/91. Report H12/91. Isr. Oceanogr. Limnol. Res.
Genin, A. and N. Paldor. 1998. Changes in the circulation and current spectrum near the tip of the narrow, seasonally mixed Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba).Isr. J. Earth Sci.,47, 87–92.
Genin, A., B. Lazar, and S. Brenner. 1995. Vertical mixing and coral death in the Red Sea following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.Nature,377, 507–510.
Klinker, J., Z. Reiss, C. Kropach, I. Levanon, H. Harpaz, E. Halicz, and G. Assaf. 1976. Observation on circulation pattern in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Isr. J. Earth Sci.,25, 85–103.
Krauss, W. 1993. Ekman drift in homogeneous water.J. Geophys. Res.,98, 20187–20210.
Levanon-Spanier, I., E. Padan, and Z. Reisis. 1979. Primary production a desert-enclosed sea- the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba) Red Sea.Deep-Sea Res.,26, 673–685.
Manasrah, R. 1998. Circulation of the Jordanian waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. M.S. thesis,, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
Manasrah, R. 2002. The general circulation and water masses characteristics in the Gulf of Aqaba and northern Red Sea.Meereswissenschaftliche Berichte,50, 1–120.
Manasrah, R., F. Al-Horani, M. Rasheed, S. Al-Rousan, and M. Khalaf. 2006a. Patterns of summer vertical and horizontal currents in coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci.,69, 567–579. doi:10.1016/j.ecss. 2006.05.024.
Manasrah, R., M. Badran, H.U. Lass, and W. Fennel. 2004. Circulation and winter deep-water formation in the northern Red Sea.Oceanologia,46(1), 5–23.
Manasrah, R., M. Rasheed, and M. Badran. 2006c. Relationships between water temperature, nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.Oceanologia,48(2), 237–253.
Manasrah, R., U. Lass, and W. Fennel. 2006b. Circulation in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea) during spring.J. Oceanog.,62(2), 219–225.
Millero, F.J. and A. Poisson. 1981. International one-atmosphere equation of state of seawater.Deep-Sea Res.,28A, 625–629.
Monismith, S.G. and A. Genin. 2004. Tides and sea level in the Gulf of Aqaba (Eilat).J. Geophys. Res.,109, doi: 10.1029/ 2003JC002069 C04015.
Murray, S., A. Hecht, and A. Babcock. 1984. On the mean flow in the Tiran Strait in winter.J. Mar. Res.,42, 265–287.
Niemann, H., R. Claudio, H. Jonkers, and M. Badran. 2004. Red Sea gravity current cascade near-reef phytoplankton to the twilight zone.Mar. Ecolog. Prog. Ser.,269, 91–99.
Price, J.F., R.A. Weller, and R.R. Schudlich. 1987. Wind-Driven Ocean Currents and Ekman Transport.Science,238(4883), 1534–1538.
Rasheed, M.Y. 1998. Assessment of Trace Nutrient and chlorophyll a concentration gradient within a Coral Reef of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. M.S. thesis, Yarmook University, Irbid, Jordan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Manasrah, R., Zibdah, M., Al-Ougaily, F. et al. Seasonal changes of water properties and current in the northernmost gulf of aqaba, red sea. Ocean Sci. J. 42, 103–116 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03020878
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03020878