Shelf dynamics around Muscat

The general circulation within the Sea of Oman is characterized by a variable system of eddies, upwelling and the water exchange between the Indian Ocean and the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Part of the deep outflow of saline Persian Gulf Water (PGW) propagates along the Oman shelf towards the south-east. The influence of eddies, Ekman transport, PGW outflow and tides onto the near-shore currents on the Omani shelf are still not comprehensively understood. Records of extreme-event wave climates and storm tides within near shore waters are also scarce. The proposed study aims to improve the understanding of the processes affecting the coastal hydrodynamics along the north coast of Oman. The analysis of data from external sources like wind records, satellite images and data from atmospheric and oceanographic models will be combined with a detailed monitoring of the local hydrodynamic conditions. It is proposed to set up a monitoring scheme along a cross-shore transect between the fishery port of Seeb and the Jazirat al Kharabah containing of stationary CTD and ADCP recordings connected by periodic sampling. The measurements will capture the temporal variation of sea surface height, currents, waves, salinity, temperature and suspended particulate matter. Linking local hydrodynamic conditions to the offshore circulation and the atmospheric conditions will help to shed light into the interactions between the coastal dynamics and larger scale processes. A better understanding of the near-shore conditions and their drivers will improve the assessment of locally relevant issues like biophysical interactions, the occurrence of algal blooms, coastal sediment transport, the diffusion of brine discharge plumes from desalination plants or coastal vulnerability to extreme events and the effects of sea level rise. The study will also provide valuable data for the verification of numerical models and the improvement of their predictions. The field work and data analysis contained within the project shall be integrated into student education, both on postgraduate level and within undergraduate practical and theoretical oceanography courses.