Equilibration of Red Sea Outflow Water

1
Equilibration of Red Sea Outflow Water

• Amy Bower1, Bill Johns2, Dave Fratantoni1 and
  Hartmut Peters2
• 1Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• 2RSMAS, University of Miami

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REDSOX Observations
Transition
3
The Outflow Channels
300 m
4
Vertical sections along channels
equilibrated outflow
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Equilibrated RSOW in Tadjura Rift Salinity and
Potential Density (s?)
multiple, intermediate layers of equilibrated
outflow water
relatively homogeneous deep layer
location of previous observations
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Maximum Density in Channels
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Maximum Outflow Density Compared to Oceanic
Profile
max density Siedler (1964) (s)
Average winter density profile
max density REDSOX winter cruise (2001) (os)
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Maximum Density in Channels
Murray and Johns 1996
Siedler 1965
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Time Series of Outflow Properties and Currents in
Northern Channel
late winter - strong outflow currents
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Frequency Distribution of Density in Northern
Channel
density in deep rift
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Interfacial vs Bottom Layers
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Conclusions

• Densest outflow water found in northern channel
  in winter.
• Outflow water was not dense enough to sink to the
  sea floor during REDSOX
• Historical observations show outflow water is
  occasionally more dense during surges in outflow
  transport in winter.
• Outflow water may be dense enough to sink to the
  sea floor about 20 or less of the time during
  winter.

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Variability in Outflow Transport