Role of tidal mixing on ocean exchange through the Strait of Hormuz

Salim, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2854-503X, Subeesh, M. P., Scott, J., Song, H., Marshall, J. and Al Shehhi, M. R. (2024) Role of tidal mixing on ocean exchange through the Strait of Hormuz. Environmental Research Communications, 6 (7). 071006. ISSN 2515-7620 doi: 10.1088/2515-7620/ad578c

Abstract/Summary

We investigate the influence of tides on the exchange of water between the Arabian Gulf and the Sea of Oman through the Strait of Hormuz using a high-resolution numerical model. Two numerical simulations are contrasted, one with and one without tidal forcing. We find that tides suppress exchange through the Strait, by∼20% in the annual mean, being largest in the summer(∼30%) and diminishing in the winter(∼13%). Tides enhance the parameterised shear-driven vertical mixing inside the Gulf and Strait, mixing warm, relatively fresh surface waters downward thus reducing the density of bottom waters flowing outwards. This reduces the lateral difference of density between Gulf and Sea of Oman and hence the exchange through the Strait. Maximum reductions occur in summer when both the vertical stratification and mixing is the largest.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/118290
Identification Number/DOI	10.1088/2515-7620/ad578c
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Uncontrolled Keywords	Water Exchange, Narrow Strait, Outflow, Inflow, Tides, Density Gradient, Tidal mixing, MIT-gcm, Arabian/Persian Gulf.
Publisher	IOP Science
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