Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal variability of mixed layer depth from Argo floats in the central Red Sea

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Argo floats are one of the eminent ocean observation systems which retrieve frequent measurements of temperature and salinity profiles in the remote marine environment and provide vital information about the world ocean with or without direct access to the human. The Argo floats available in the Red Sea are not well explored by the research community so far. In the present study, the temperature and salinity data from two Argo floats available in the central Red Sea for a period of 2 years are used to examine the mixed layer depth variability in the region. The mixed layer in the region is maximum during February associated with a decrease in static stability and shallowest during August due to an increase in static stability. A noticeable difference is observed in the existing mixed layer structure by the presence of eddies. The analysis of monthly mean thermal and haline structure showed that the warming of the surface layer is intense from March to August followed by cooling from September to February. The surface layer salinity increased from May to October and decreased in the following months. A noticeable east-west difference is observed in the thermal and haline structure, where the eastern side of the region is warmer by ~0.3 °C and less saline by ~0.1 PSU.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdulla CP, Alsaafani MA, Alraddadi TM, Albarakati AM (2016) Estimation of mixed layer depth in the Gulf of Aden: a new approach. PLoS One 11:e0165136. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdulla CP, Alsaafani MA, Alraddadi TM, Albarakati AM (2018) Mixed layer depth variability in the Red Sea. Ocean Sci 14:563–573. https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-563-2018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdulla CP, Alsaafani MA, Alraddadi TM, Albarakati AM (2019) Climatology of mixed layer depth in the Gulf of Aden derived from in situ temperature profiles. J Oceanogr 75:335–347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10872-019-00506-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aboobacker VM, Shanas PR, Alsaafani MA, Albarakati AMA (2017) Wave energy resource assessment for Red Sea. Renew Energy 114:46–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.09.073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albarakati AM, Ahmad F (2013) Variation of the surface buoyancy flux in the Red Sea. Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences 42:717–721

    Google Scholar 

  • Alraddadi TM (2013) Temporal changes in the Red Sea circulation and associated water masses. University of Southampton, Ocean and Earth Science, Doctoral Thesis, pp 198

  • Alsaafani MA, Alraddadi TM, Albarakati AMA (2017) Seasonal variability of hydrographic structure in Sharm Obhur and water exchange with the Red Sea. Arab J Geosci 10:315

  • Bessa I, Makaoui A, Agouzouk A, Idrissi M, Hilmi K, Afifi M (2020) Variability of the ocean mixed layer depth and the upwelling activity in the Cape Bojador, Morocco. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment 6:1345–1355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chelton DB, Schlax MG, Samelson RM (2011) Global observations of nonlinear mesoscale eddies. Prog Oceanogr 91:167–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2011.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen D, Busalacchi AJ, Rothstein LM (1994) The roles of vertical mixing, solar radiation, and wind stress in a model simulation of the sea surface temperature seasonal cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean. J Geophys Res 99:20345. https://doi.org/10.1029/94JC01621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ortenzio F, Iudicone D, de Boyer Montegut C et al (2005) Seasonal variability of the mixed layer depth in the Mediterranean Sea as derived from in situ profiles. Geophys Res Lett 32:L12605. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ducet N, LaTraon PY, Reverdin G (2000) Global high-resolution mapping of ocean circulation from TOPEX/Poseidon and ERS-1 and -2. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 105:19477–19498. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JC900063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaube P, McGillicuddy DJ Jr, Moulin AJ (2019) Mesoscale eddies modulate mixed layer depth globally. Geophys Res Lett 46:1505–1512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould J (2005) A beginners’ guide to accessing Argo data. http://www.argo.ucsd.edu/Argo_Date_Guide.html

  • Hausmann U, McGillicuddy DJ, Marshall J (2017) Observed mesoscale eddy signatures in Southern Ocean surface mixed-layer depth. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 122:617–635. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JC012225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaTraon PY, Dibarboure G (1999) Mesoscale mapping capabilities of multiple-satellite altimeter missions. J Atmos Ocean Technol 16:1208–1223. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1999)016<1208:MMCOMS>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luksch J (1898) Expedition S. M. Schiff “Pola” in das Rothe Meer, Nordliche Halfte (Oct. 1895-May 1896). Wiissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. VI. Physikaische Utersuchungen (Expedition of the S. M. Boat “Pola” in the Red Sea, Northern Part (Oct. 1895 -May 1896). Scientific Res. Dtersuchungen Denkschr Akad Wiss (Math Nauturw KL)

  • Morcos SA (1970) Physical and chemical oceanography of the Red Sea. Oceanogr Mar Biol Annu Rev 8:73–202

  • Polovina J, Mitchum GT, Evans T (1995) Decadal and basin-scale variation in mixed layer depth and the impact on biological production in the Central and North Pacific , 1960-88. Deep-Sea Res 42:1701–1716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson MK (1974) Atlas of monthly mean sea surface and subsurface temperature and the depth of the thermocline. In: L’oceanographie physique de la Mer Rouge, Symposium de l’Association Internationale des Sciences Physiques de l’océan. Paris: CNEXO. pp 29–54

  • Shanas PR, Aboobacker VM, Albarakati AMA, Zubier KM (2017) Climate driven variability of wind-waves in the Red Sea. Ocean Model 119:105–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2017.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sofianos SS, Johns WE (2007) Observations of the summer Red Sea circulation. J Geophys Res Ocean 112:1–20. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JC003886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohail T, Gayen B, McC Hogg A (2020) The dynamics of mixed layer deepening during open-ocean convection. J Phys Oceanogr 50:1625–1641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • 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. Scientific Reports 2:105

    Google Scholar 

  • Vercelli F (1927) The hydrographic survey of the R. N. Amrairaglio Magnaghi in the Red Sea. Annual Hydrographic 2:1–290

  • Zeng L, Wang D (2017) Seasonal variations in the barrier layer in the South China Sea: characteristics, mechanisms and impact of warming. Clim Dyn 48:1911–1930. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-3182-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhai P, Bower AS (2013) The response of the Red Sea to a strong wind jet near the Tokar Gap in summer. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 118:422–434. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JC008444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhan P, Subramanian AC, Yao F, Hoteit I (2014) Eddies in the Red Sea: a statistical and dynamical study. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 119:3909–3925. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JC009563

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it for collecting the Argo profile data and making it freely available. The Argo Program is part of the Global Ocean Observing System (https://doi.org/10.13155/29825). The authors also acknowledge the AVISO data center for providing gridded sea level data (ftp://ftp.aviso.altimetry.fr/global/delayed-time/grids/msla/all-satmerged/h/).

Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. G-129-150-38. The authors, therefore, acknowledges with thanks the DSR’s technical and financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Physics, Faculty of Marine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Turki Metabe Alraddadi, Mohammed Ali Alsaafani, Alaa Mohammed Albarakati & Cheriyeri Poyil Abdulla

  2. Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen

    Mohammed Ali Alsaafani

Authors
  1. Turki Metabe Alraddadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammed Ali Alsaafani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alaa Mohammed Albarakati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Cheriyeri Poyil Abdulla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Turki Metabe Alraddadi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Zhihua Zhang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Alraddadi, T.M., Alsaafani, M.A., Albarakati, A.M. et al. Seasonal variability of mixed layer depth from Argo floats in the central Red Sea. Arab J Geosci 14, 496 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06862-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-06862-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation