FINGER PRINTS OF HYDRODYNAMIC CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH- WESTERN PERSIAN GULF IN THE OOLITIC BANKS – CASE STUDY OF BUSHEHR BAY

The Persian Gulf is an important shallow water body with an average depth of about 35 m. Sediments in the Persian Gulf are mainly composed of two different origins; bio-clastic or clastic sediments. Bio-clastic sediments are composed of organic debris, i.e. the remains of marine organisms, and belong to the regions where they were created in, while clastic sediments are generally composed of broken rocks and are transferred to the sea from land. The types of sediments can be related to the hydrology, hydrodynamics, climate conditions and marine habitats of the study area. Oolitic sediments are one of the particular sediments that are formed in shallow water bodies. These sediments are the result of carbonate precipitation in the water column during hot seasons. As one of the shallowest water bodies of the world, especially in the north-western part, and because of the very high temperature during summer, the Persian Gulf is a text book example for carbonate sediments, generated in the water column. It encompasses many oolite factories along the north-western coastal parts as well as some certain locations in the south. Although the general aspects of oolitic depositional systems are well documented, the details of processes acting on these systems are not well understood and quantified [1]. The present study aims to investigate hydrodynamic-related impacts on the formation of oolitic deposits at the case study of Bushehr Bay. The sediments and hydrodynamic conditions of the bay are examined and the relation between the ambient flows and sediment characteristics is presented.