Shelf Slope Dynamics in the Sea of Oman: How Submesoscale Processes Control Food And Water Security

The Sultanate of Oman, as other countries in the Middle East, relies heavily on the seas for naturalresources. Such arid regions use desalination plants for drinking water and agricultural irrigation, whilefisheries and aquaculture are cornerstones of food availability. Along the coast of Oman, harmful algalblooms (HABs) can cause drastic fish mortalities (ie. dead tides) and can clog desalination plants. TheseHABs can also produce toxic or harmful effects on people and marine organisms.HABs in this region are not driven by excess pollution but are a natural phenomenon. In the deep watersoffshore around Oman, there is a thick layer of the ocean (from 150 m to 1000 m depth) that is devoidof oxygen but rich in nutrients and different chemical compounds. We believe that this deep water cangenerate HABs when it is brought to the surface and transported inshore. What we do not know is howthis deep water is transported upwards and across the edge of the continental shelf to the shallowcoastal regions.