Impacts of Shamal and Nashi Winds on the Hydrodynamics along the Northeast Coast of Qatar, Central Arabian Gulf

Aboobacker, V.M.; Abdulla, C.P.; Al-Ansari, E.M.A.S., and Vethamony, P., 2024. Impacts of shamal and nashi winds on the hydrodynamics along the northeast coast of Qatar, central Arabian Gulf. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 609-613. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The Arabian Gulf (hereafter the “Gulf”), a semi-enclosed basin with a maximum depth of 100 m, is connected to the Sea of Oman through the Strait of Hormuz. The seawater properties of the Gulf are nearly stable due to the exchange between the Sea of Oman and Gulf induced by the wind-driven surface inflow and the density-driven deepwater outflow. The currents in the Gulf were broadly studied, however, the characteristics of nearshore currents in the Qatar waters have not been investigated so far. This study presents the typical features identified from the measurements at a nearshore location along the east coast of Qatar, namely off Fuwairit (northeast cost; 7m depth). The analysis reveals that the northwesterly shamal and easterly nashi winds have significant role in the hydrodynamic circulation along the east coast of Qatar. During shamal events, the southeasterly/east-southeasterly flow was enhanced, while the north-westerly flow was diminished, since the wind-induced flow was followed the tidal ebb flows, and the opposite was true during flood flows. When the shamal was very strong, it has even nullified the tidal flows. A continuous south-eastward flow for a period of 48 hours have been identified during such an event. During strongest nashi winds, the northwestward flow off Fuwairit has been enhanced, while the southeastward flow has been diminished. The surface winds obtained from ERA5 and the surface currents obtained from the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Services (CMEMS) has been used to further elaborate on the shamal and nashi wind effects on the Gulf circulation.