Property-property relations: 22° and 9° discontinuities in the Arabian Sea

Abstract

This study uses the relationship between conservative chemical parameters and the relationship between potential temperature and salinity to determine the layers of discontinuity in the Sea of Oman and describe phenomena in situ. The values of salinity, PO, NO, oxygen and the stability of water (E) depending on the potential temperature reveal two layers of discontinuity, one following the isotherm 22.2°C (22 DD) and the each other along the isotherm 9.1° C (9 DD). Layer 22 DD appears to result from mixing of waters of the Gulf (PGW) with shallow salinity maximum (SSMW). This discontinuity is mid-depth of the mixed layer. The mass of water of the Red Sea (RSW) contributes to the discontinuity DD 9. We also determine various physicochemical characteristics of these two layers of discontinuity, as well as those of other water masses and isopycnal surfaces.