Some Features of the Physical Oceanography in Iraqi Marine Waters.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Iraqi marine water is the major estuarine part at the north Arabian Gulf. The harmonic constituents of tide M2, S2, K1, and O1 in Outer Bar station was found of order of 0.66, 0.18, 0.46 and 0.26 m, respectively. The type of tide is mixed, dominant semi-diurnal with range between 1 –3 m. Salinity values (4 ‰ – 39 ‰) are effected heavily by the rate of the Shatt Al-Arab discharge and the state of tide. Water temperature fluctuates during winter and summer, reaching 12.5˚C to 33.5˚C respectively. Thermocline and halocline developed according to the season and state of tide. Different types of currents were observed including tidal current, coriolis force, wind current, density current and Arabian Gulf current. Generally, tidal current in the area are strong and reaching 0.8 -2 m/sec.