Physical and biological characteristics of the winter‐summer transition in the Central Red Sea

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Oceans 2017-08, Vol.122 (8), p.6355-6370
• Main Authors: Zarokanellos, Nikolaos D., Papadopoulos, Vassilis P., Sofianos, Sarantis. S., Jones, Burton H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biogeochemistry; Boundary currents; Boundary layers; Central Red Sea; Circulation; Coastal environments; Deep water; Density stratification; Dissipation; eastern boundary current; Eastern boundary currents; Eddies; eddy variability; Geophysics; glider; Mesoscale eddies; Monsoon reversal; Monsoon winds; Monsoons; Ocean circulation; Oceans; Ships; Southwest monsoon; Stratification; Summer; Surface water; Vortices; Water; Water circulation; Wind regime; Winds; Winter; winter‐summer transition
• ISSN: 2169-9275; 2169-9291
• DOI: 10.1002/2017JC012882

The Central Red Sea (CRS) lies between two distinct hydrographic and atmospheric regimes. In the southern Red Sea, seasonal monsoon reversal regulates the exchange of water between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. In the northern Red Sea, intermediate and occasionally deep water are formed during winter to sustain the basin's overturning circulation. Highly variable mesoscale eddies and the northward flowing eastern boundary current (EBC) determine the physical and biogeochemical characteristics of the CRS. Ship‐based and glider observations in the CRS between March and June 2013 capture key features of the transition from winter to summer and depict the impact of the eddy activity on the EBC flow. Less saline and relatively warmer water of Indian Ocean origin reaches the CRS via the EBC. Initially, an anticyclonic eddy with diameter of 140 km penetrating to 150m depth with maximum velocities up to 30–35 cm s−1 prevails in the CRS. This anticyclonic eddy appears to block or at least redirect the northward flow of the EBC. Dissipation of the eddy permits the near‐coastal, northward flow of the EBC and gives place to a smaller cyclonic eddy with a diameter of about 50 km penetrating to 200 m depth. By the end of May, as the northerly winds become stronger and persistent throughout the basin, characteristic of the summer southwest monsoon wind regime, the EBC, and its associated lower salinity water became less evident, replaced by the saltier surface water that characterizes the onset of the summer stratification in the CRS. Key Points: Mesoscale eddies and eastern boundary current governs the physical and biogeochemical characteristics of the central Red Sea This first study employed ship‐based and glider observations capturing key features of the seasonal transition from winter to early summer An anticyclonic eddy appears to redirect the northward flow along the eastern boundary