Assessment of Water Quality Across the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

Measurements of basic hydrographic properties and Chlorophyll a were made on 20 stations between 25° N and 27°N in ROPME sea area (RSA) on Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman Cruise, PGE 1802, during May 2018. Seawater samples were collected from the marine environment of Iran at the surface, 10 m, 25 m, 50 m, 75 m and upper depths, depending on the total depth at each station. The water column Chl-a concentration in the studied area were 0.14-3.02 μg/L. Perpendicular distribution of Chl-a primarily indicated a subsurface maximum placed at a depth of 25 meters. The results show the penetration of surface water with a salinity of 35.5 psu into the Persian Gulf which is carried along the Iranian Coast, gradually increasing in salinity to more than 39.2 psu. The oxygen level was generally saturated in the surface waters of the whole basin (≥100%). Vertical profile average of temperature shows thermocline between the layers located at the depths of 15 to 40 meters.

Assessment of Water Quality Across the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman Keywords:

Water quality , Chlorophyll a , Oman Sea , Persian Gulf.