Arabian lake. Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea and numerous resorts located on its coast are especially popular with those who prefer first-class beaches, ancient sights and a wide range of modern entertainment. Due to the popularity of coastal areas, the Arabian Sea is easy to find on the map.

Arabian Sea on the world map

The Arabian Sea is one of the largest and deepest, and its temperature perfect for swimming at any time of the year.

Green, Persian, Eritrean - such names were given in ancient times to the Arabian Sea.

Where is it located and what ocean does it belong to?

The Arabian Sea is located in the northern hemisphere Asian parts of the world. In the east it is bounded by the Hindustan Peninsula, and in the west by the Arabian Peninsula. The water area includes several bays at once, the largest of which are:

• Omani;
• Cambay;
• Kutch;
• Aden gulf (connects to the Red Sea).

Read also about the delights of the Red Sea's underwater world.

Among the seas that make up indian ocean, the Arabian and the seas are ahead of their neighbors, being the largest of them. They are connected by the Babel-Mandeb Strait, and what is especially remarkable, the Red Sea is located to the west.

Climatic features

The climate of the Arabian Sea warm monsoon, and the weather conditions of the Hindustan peninsula have a significant impact on it. average temperature sea ​​water on the coast is from +22 to +28°C. Its performance does not fall below +20 degrees.

Such conditions are especially attractive for those who prefer the resorts of this water area - one of the most beloved by tourists.

Characteristics

It is not just that the Arabian Sea is considered one of the largest in the Indian Ocean, as well as occupying fifth place in size and depth in the world. Its area is 3.8 million square meters. km, and the maximum width reaches 2400 km. The depth in some places is 5800 meters.

Relief of the Arabian Sea heterogeneous- according to the characteristics, it has a general slope from north to south. The shores are indented with bays and bays, some are high and rocky, while others are low-lying deltas. The Carlsberg Ridge divides the bottom into two large sections, forming two basins. The first of them is Arabian, the second is Somali.

To make the trip as comfortable as possible, choose the right suitcase. Read on for tips on selection.

Very rich and varied undersea world flora and fauna of the sea. Laminaria, brown and red algae live here. Among living organisms, about 100 commercial species of fish, shrimp, crabs and lobsters predominate. Also found in Arabian waters are clown fish, angel fish, gobies, triggerfish, lionfish, and sardinella.

In the Arabian Sea are found sharks- brindle, mako, reef, blackfin and blue. Off the coast of Hindustan, industrial fishing is especially developed. Tuna, marlin, mackerel and sardines are mined here.

coast map

Countries, islands and resorts washed by the Arabian Sea are one of the the most popular tourists from all over the world.

Resorts are in demand due to the warm climate and excellent conditions for recreation.

What continents and countries does it wash?

Since the Arabian Sea occupies the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, its waters wash the coast of countries Asia and northeastern Africa. From the side of Hindustan, these include India (including Goa), Pakistan, Maldives and. The countries of the Omani Peninsula, washed by the sea, include Oman and Yemen, and on African continent- the coast of Djibouti and Somalia.

Major resorts

Most Popular and large resorts of the Arabian Sea - India, its state of Goa, the Maldives and Oman. All of them attract travelers with their incredible exoticism, luxurious coastline, developed infrastructure and great opportunities for a fabulous vacation.

One of the brightest places Goa- a resort with everything necessary for tourists. Of all the Indian states, it is the most suitable for recreation, although it is only a narrow coastal strip. First of all, it attracts a variety of beaches and the opportunity to relax inexpensively.

It is customary to divide into Southern and Northern, and their main differences are in the level and quality of service. On north prefer to come to those who like an inexpensive, but eventful vacation. There are a lot of budget places for overnight stays, affordable prices for services, but not always clean beaches. But it is never boring - noisy parties are constantly held on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

But even despite the noise and fun, vacationers have the opportunity to find a secluded beach and have a good time.

The most popular resorts in North Goa:

1. Arambol;
2. Anjuna;
3. Morjim;
4. Candolim;
5. Calangute.

On south Goa is visited by those who want to spend time in solitude and silence, surrounding themselves with first-class service. This part of the state is dominated by 4-5 stars, the coast is always clean and well-groomed. There are many interesting historical sites, as well as attractions reminiscent of the rich past of this country.

The following resorts of the Arabian Sea are also popular:

• Mumbai– local beaches are one of the warmest, so here you can enjoy swimming and sunbathing to your heart’s content;
• Mangalore– the coast is ideal for beach holiday, walking along it, but swimming here is difficult due to strong undercurrents;
• Kerala– a charming place with crystal clean water and small fishing villages are becoming more and more popular with tourists every year.

Resorts Oman not as popular and promoted as the coast of Goa, but here you can also have a great time enjoying your vacation by the Arabian Sea. The most famous and beautiful resorts of this country are Muscat and Salalah. They are ancient cities with a superb coastline, countless orchards with fruit trees, as well as places for exciting excursions.

All the beaches of Muscat and Salalah are sandy, well-groomed, and sunbeds and umbrellas are provided free of charge.

Couples in love are familiar with one of the most romantic resorts in the Arabian Sea -. In this tropical paradise those who are ready to spend time on one of the best exotic islands come. The local coast is the cleanest sandy beaches, blue lagoons, beautiful nature and complete privacy in a fabulous place. Service in hotels is provided only at the highest level.

Particularly popular in the Maldives diving. Tourists flock from all over the world to admire the underwater life of the Arabian Sea while in comfortable temperature waters. best time for this direction, the period from January to April is considered here - when the water is as clear as possible, and the weather is sunny.

1. Local resorts - paradise for seafood lovers. In the coastal cafes you can find a variety of dishes from fresh squid, mussels, shrimps and crabs.
2. Maximum sea temperature it is reached in May - up to +29 degrees, in winter - +22°C, and in summer +27 degrees.
3. The inhabitants of the Maldives have completely no sources fresh water , so they collect rainwater or desalinate seawater.
4. Found here special types fish - grouper. Their weight reaches 400 kg, and because of their size they are too slow, which makes them quite easy prey for fans of spearfishing.

Watch in this video on the coast of the Arabian Sea:

Today I will tell and show you the Arabian Sea. I know you have probably already seen him either in my magazine or live. What is there to see, the sea is like the sea, right?))

Arabian Sea at Ganpatipul

So,

The Arabian Sea is the northern part of the Indian Ocean. As far as I understand, even the Maldives is washed by the Arabian Sea, and not the Indian Ocean.

The Arabian Sea is called the Arabian Sea becauseIXcentury before late Middle Ages Arab traders often traveled along it. Incidentally, the northern coast trade route was known as early as 7,000 years ago and was used by the ancient ships of the earliest human civilizations.

However, it was not always called the Arabian, it was also known to navigators as the Omandian, Persian, Indo-Arabian and Green Seas.

Ganpatipule beach and Hindu temple of the same name

The Arabian Sea washes not only the Indian shores, but also the shores of such countries as Pakistan, Iran, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and African Somalia and Djibouti.

Arabian sea coast in Goa

The area of ​​the sea is comparable tothe territory of India - the area covered by the sea is 1.17 times the area of ​​India.

The Arabian Sea is included in 10 largest seas world (the largest - Okhotsk and Berengovo).

Ganpatipule

It is also referred to as one of the 10 most clean seas(among which are also Red and Dead Sea). Although there are two major ports (Mumbai and Karachi) on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the waters are also polluted by oil refineries. In addition, oil is transported from the countries of the Persian Gulf through the Arabian Sea.

Arabian Sea in Mumbai

The Arabian Sea is one of the deepest (the depth at the deepest point reaches 5803m, while the average depth is 2900m)

The waters of the Arabian Sea are warm all year round. Its temperature ranges from 22 to 29 degrees (the hottest month is May) Celsius. Swimming in the sea is not allowed during the rainy season (June to September inclusive), as the waves are especially strong at this time.

We go by sea on a barge in Ganpatipul (the car goes with us =)

If you come out of season or visit the public beach, you will see Indians swimming in the sea in their clothes. This is due to several reasons. Firstly, it is not customary to undress in public, it is indecent. And secondly, the culture of recreation and swimming in the sea is not yet highly developed here. As a result, there is not a large selection of swimwear.

By the way, only a few Indians can swim. This seems strange, because India is surrounded on all sides by water. But, for example, the Arabian Sea off the coast is often shallow and restless. Even if there is no wind, there are still waves!

I hope you learned a lot like me and! and never even yawned after reading this post =))

The Arabian Sea is located in the northwest of the Indian Ocean between the Hindustan and Arabian peninsulas. The Arabian Sea washes the shores of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Djibouti, Yemen, Iran, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, Pakistan and India. One of the deepest seas in the world with maximum depths of over 5 kilometers. Commercial fishing is developed in the Arabian Sea. Large quantities of mackerel, sardines, marlin and tuna are caught. Shrimp and lobster are also harvested here.

The climate of the Arabian Sea region is warm and monsoonal. The climate of the Hindustan Peninsula has a significant impact on the climate of the Arabian Sea. The average air temperature is +22 ... +28 degrees and does not depend on the season. The temperature does not fall below +20 degrees. Sea water temperature is from +22 to +28 degrees. The salinity of the water is 35.8-36.5%. Climate in summer period more humid. Typhoons often hit the Arabian Sea

There are several islands in the Arabian Sea. Masirah Island (Oman) is interesting in that a huge number of sea turtles lay their eggs on sandy beaches in summer

Windsurfers and kitesurfers come to the island

In the western part of the island, among the corals, great places for diving

The Sultanate of Oman plans to build a 40-kilometer bridge that will connect the mainland with the turtle island

Sea tourism. The Sultanate of Oman annually invests in tourism infrastructure. In the south of Oman, near the city of Salalah, a new resort is being built. About a million tourists visit Oman every year. In the southeast, the Laccadive Islands (Union Territory of Lakshadweep) are located, the name is translated as one hundred thousand islands. In fact, there are fewer of them - only 36 islands (11 inhabited).

In terms of climate and nature, they are very similar to the Maldives. These islands are known as the center of nautical sports. Here you can go diving, snorkeling, kayaking, rent boats with a transparent bottom and pleasure yachts

There are several restrictions on the archipelago. This is due to the fact that almost the entire population of this island preaches Islam. The island has a ban on nudism, too skimpy swimwear, you can not litter and collect corals, alcoholic beverages are prohibited.

Ecotourism is popular on the islands. One of the activities of the population is tuna fishing. Tourists may also be interested in tuna fishing. Tourists visiting the archipelago are limited and rest on the islands is guaranteed only if there is a confirmation of the reservation from the hotel. There are several mosques on the islands. There is an airport on the island of Lagatti, which is connected by direct flights to the cities of Kochi and Bangalore (India).

The western coast of India along the Arabian Sea, 600 kilometers long and about 50 kilometers wide and separated by the Western Ghats mountain range, is called Konkan. Konkan has a lush tropical nature. More than a hundred species of fish live in local waters. Several types of sharks live in the sea, including tiger, reef, blue and blunt-nosed sharks. But usually sharks do not attack a person, even if they swam to the beach. Man is more dangerous for sharks because of the edible shark fins, sharks in the Arabian Sea are mined in large quantities. In the waters of the sea you can meet a giant grouper (it can reach a length of up to 3.5 meters and a weight of up to 400 kilograms).

Scuba divers need to be careful with such fish, there have been cases of fish attacking a person with mortal wounds. You can also meet other fish: dorab, clown fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, triggerfish, lion fish and others.

There are several large ports on the shores of the Arabian Sea: Bombay (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Muscat (UAE) and Aden (Yemen). The Arabian Sea is the main artery through which oil is transported from the countries of the Persian Gulf.

ARABIAN SEA

ARABIAN SEA

semi-enclosed sea of ​​the Indian Ocean between the Arabian and Hindustan peninsulas. The greatest depth is 5803 m, large bays of Oman and Aden. It communicates with the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (length 900 km, width up to 300 km, depth up to 4525 m). water t 22-29°С, salinity over 36 ppm. Tuna fishing, swordfish, shipping.

Brief geographical dictionary. EdwART. 2008 .

Arabian Sea

(Arabian Sea), a semi-enclosed sea in N. indian ocean , located between peninsulas Arabian And Hindustan . SW border. - Cape Khafun (Somalia) - Addu Atoll - west. edge Maldivian And Laccadive Islands . Pl. with Aden and Omani hall. 4832 thousand km², avg. depth 3006 m, max. 5803 m. Surface temperature in winter 24–25 °С, in summer more than 28 °С. The salinity of the surface is more than 36 ‰, in the rainy season it is less than 35 ‰. In the north there is a wide shelf covered with silt, near the coast there is a lot of sand brought by the wind from the desert. Two basins: Arabian in the NE. and Somali in the SW., their bottom is lined with red clay. Main ports: Bombay (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Aden (Yemen). The most productive sea of ​​the Indian Ocean, commercial species are Indian mackerel and sardinella, anchovies, tuna and cuttlefish.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Arabian Sea

a semi-enclosed sea in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian and Hindustan peninsulas. The border in the south is considered to be a line running from Cape Khafun (Somalia) to Addu Atoll and further to the west. edge of the Maldives and Laccadive Islands. Pl. 4832 thousand km², the greatest depth. 5803 m. The average annual water temperature is from 24 to 28 °C. Salinity 35–36‰. The tides are irregular semi-diurnal, up to 5.1 m. The hydrological regime and weather are strongly influenced by monsoons. In the north of the sea there is a wide shelf covered with silt. Two basins: Arabian (North-East) and Somali (South-West). Washes the shores of India, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Somalia and Yemen. The United States also go to the Persian Gulf. United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq. Ch. ports: Bombay (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Aden (Yemen). Fishing (Indian mackerel, sardinella, anchovies, tuna).

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

See what the "ARABIAN SEA" is in other dictionaries:

Beach in Goa ... Wikipedia

Modern Encyclopedia

Part of the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian Peninsula in the west and Hindustan in the east. 4832 thousand km². Depth up to 5803 m. Large bays: Aden, Oman, Kutch, Cambay. Large islands: Socotra, Laccadive. The river flows Ind. Main ports:… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Arabian Sea- Indian Ocean, between the Arabian and Hindustan peninsulas. The area is 4832 thousand km2. Depth up to 5803 m. Large bays: Aden, Oman. Large islands: Socotra, Laccadive. The Indus River flows in. Fishing (tuna, swordfish, etc.). Large… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Part of the Indian Ocean, between the Arabian Peninsula in the west and Hindustan in the east. 4832 thousand km2. Depth up to 5803 m. Large bays: Aden, Oman, Kutch, Cambay. Large islands: Socotra, Laccadive. The Indus River flows in. Main… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Sandy shore of the Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea is located in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. It occupies the Arabian Basin, clearly distinguished by the outlines of the coast and the topography of the bottom. In the west, the borders of the sea are the shores of the Somali and Arabian peninsulas, in the north and northeast - the shores of the Hindustan Peninsula. The eastern border stands out along the Maldives Range, almost all of whose peaks protrude above the water, forming islands. The Arabian-Indian Ridge, which separates the sea from the rest of the ocean, is taken as the southern boundary of the sea.

The depths above the peaks of the ridge are 1500-2000 m, and the depth of its rift gorges is 3000-4000 m, in some places it increases to 5000 m.

Sea area - 4,221 thousand km 2, volume - 14,005 thousand km 3 (excluding the Gulfs of Aden, Oman and Persian, whose area is 611 thousand km 2, volume - 518 thousand km 3), average depth - 3006 m , the greatest depth - 5803 m.

Indian Ocean

Climate

The main features of the climate of the Arabian Sea are determined by the characteristics of its geographical location. Atmospheric circulation has a well-pronounced monsoonal character, the differences in seasons in the northern part are very pronounced.

The northeast (winter) monsoon sets in November and persists until March. Over the extreme northern regions of the Arabian Sea, the circulation of the northeast monsoon is sometimes disturbed by the passage of the so-called westerly disturbances. At the same time, northwestern and western air flows prevail, the wind speed increases to 8-10 m/s, while in the field of an undisturbed monsoon flow it is on average 3-7 m/s.

In summer, the circulation of the southwest monsoon dominates the Arabian Sea. From June to August, it accounts for 90-100% of all winds. The summer monsoon in this area is an extremely stable system in terms of calendar terms, manifestation intensity, distribution in space, where wind speeds reach 15-20 m/s. The strongest winds are observed in the central and western parts of the sea, in the eastern - the speed is lower - 5-10 m/s. The short transitional seasons of the year (April and October) are different greatest variety synoptic conditions. During these months, the most characteristic atmospheric process is the passage of tropical disturbances over the Arabian Sea, the trajectories of which have a well-pronounced meridional component. Most often this type of circulation is observed in autumn. In the spring, when it begins to warm up, shallow thermal depressions appear over Hindustan, causing northern winds. During transitional months, especially in spring, baric fields often form over the northern part of the Indian Ocean, which determine weak winds (3-4 m/s) of variable directions.

The Arabian Sea, located almost entirely in the tropical zone, is characterized by high air temperatures: 22-26° in winter, 26-30° in summer, intense evaporation from its surface (1500-1750 mm per year in most of the water area and up to 2000 mm per year off the coast of the Somali Peninsula).

Precipitation is generally very small - from 25 to 125 mm per year, however, off the coast of the Hindustan Peninsula, their amount increases to 3000 mm per year.

main feature climatic conditions associated with monsoons - seasonal variability of meteorological characteristics, and first of all, a sharp change in wind fields, causes a response from the sea. Excitement during the northeast monsoon is small, the wave height does not exceed 1 m. In summer, during the southwest monsoon, stronger excitement develops, the frequency of waves with a height of 2 m or more is 45%. In the southwestern part of the sea, the wave height can reach 10-12 m, and the frequency of waves with a wave height of 5 m or more is about 25%.

Bottom relief

According to the relief of the bottom, the Arabian Basin is a vast plain with depths of 4000-5000 m, slightly inclined towards the Arabian-Indian ridge. In the northwestern part of the sea, between the Oman and Arabian basins, there is the Murray Range, which stretches from the continental slope to the southwest for almost 500 km. Depths above its peaks are 300-400 m.

The shelf and continental slope are well developed off the Hindustan Peninsula. The width of the continental shelf varies from 40 km in the south to 450 km against the Gulf of Cambay. The continental slope is well expressed in the relief by a relatively low ledge. Against the mouth of the Indus, a deep and narrow underwater canyon cuts through the shelf and the continental slope. The upper reaches of the canyon protrude into the shelf for more than 100 km. Its depth in the direction from the coast increases from 100-200 to 1000-1500 m. The width of the canyon is up to 10 km, at the bottom - 3.5 - 5.0 km.

Along the northern and western coasts the shelf is narrow - from 9-10 to 80 km. The continental slope near the Arabian Peninsula and in the northern part of the sea is a steep ledge with a smoothed transverse profile.

Bottom relief and currents of the Arabian Sea

Hydrology and water circulation

The largest annual level fluctuations due to changes in atmospheric pressure are observed in the north of the Arabian Sea and is 20 cm, and the low level is associated with the northeast monsoon, and the high one - with the southwest.

The tides in the sea are irregular semi-diurnal. The magnitude of the tides in the sygizium near Aden is 2.5 m and increases along the northern coast to the east, reaching 5.7 m near Bombay. Further south along the coast of the Hindustan Peninsula, the magnitude of the tides decreases to 1.1 m.

The main features of the circulation of the waters of the upper layer of the Arabian Sea are formed mainly under the influence of the monsoon wind system. In summer, during the southwestern monsoon, an anticyclonic gyre is formed, elongated along 10 ° N. latitude. Off the northeast coast of Africa, the Somali current is formed in this season, which is characterized by high speed, exceeding individual cases 200 cm/s. In the Arabian Sea, the Somali current forks: one branch is directed to the northeast, along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, the other, less clearly expressed, at 8 ° N. latitude. deviates to the east. As you move in. Arabian Sea The Somali current is gradually weakening. Against the background of the general anticyclonic movement of waters, cyclonic eddies are observed near the islands of Socotra and Laccadive.

Intense atmospheric and oceanic circulation during the southwest monsoon determines the development of upwelling in some areas of the sea. Along the coasts of Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the western coast of the Hindustan Peninsula, water rises, developing on the left side of a strong current. Upwelling is most intense off the coast of Somalia up to 11° N, where the entire warm surface layer is replaced by water with temperatures below 20° on the surface. In the north, the area of ​​this upwelling is limited by the flow of warm surface water from the Gulf of Aden, which separates the Somali upwelling and upwelling along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula. called strong winds blowing parallel to the coast, upwelling along the Arabian Peninsula may exceed the Somali one in volume.

In winter, during the northeast monsoon, the water circulation is restructured: the anticyclonic movement characteristic of summer is replaced by a cyclonic movement, well expressed in the central part of the sea. In the west, there is a flow of water from the Gulf of Aden. The winter monsoon, which is much weaker than the summer monsoon, does not cause a large surge. In coastal areas, there is a slight subsidence of chilled surface water. Only under certain wind conditions, causing water surge, can upwelling be observed in the northern part of the sea, off the coast of Pakistan. In the central part of the sea, deep water rises in the center of the cyclonic circulation.

Seasonal changes in the structure of density currents extend to a horizon of about 300 m. From a horizon of 500 m and below, cyclonic water circulation prevails in most of the sea area, the intensity of which is much weaker than the circulation in the overlying layers. Only to the east of Socotra has an anticyclonic gyre.

Water temperature and salinity

The Arabian Sea is one of the heat accumulators in. The arrival of a large amount of solar energy on the sea surface causes its high upper layer in all seasons of the year.

In summer, spatial temperature differences on the surface exceed 11° (from 28-29° in the open part of the sea to 18-20° off the coast of Oman and Somalia). In winter, the maximum surface temperature (28°) is observed in the southern part of the sea; in the northern part and near the Arabian Peninsula it drops to 24-25°, and in the north-east of the sea - to 21-22°.

Heat is transferred from the surface to the water column mainly as a result of convective mixing, which develops in the Arabian Sea mainly due to salinization during evaporation (tropical type), as well as wind mixing. The depth of density convection is mainly limited by a layer 25–30 m thick.

The upper boundary of the seasonal thermocline in the northwestern part of the sea and off the coast of Oman is located in the 20–30 m layer in summer, and its position is influenced by upwelling. In open areas of the sea, the depth of the thermocline increases from north to south from 50 to 150 m. Near the African coast, under the influence of the Somali current, the waters are well mixed, the temperature jump is in the 100-200 m layer, and its vertical gradients are lower than in other areas of the sea.

In winter, the maximum vertical temperature gradients are observed in the middle of the cyclonic circulation in the central part of the sea in the 75–125 m layer. In the northern, northeastern parts of the sea and off the coast of the Hindustan Peninsula, the gradients are smaller, and the thermocline is located in the 100–150 m layer.

On the horizon of 100 m in summer the temperature in the central part of the sea is 25°, only off the coast of the Somali Peninsula is 12-14°. "Cold" water (18-20 °) is also located along the entire coast of Oman. Along the coast of the Hindustan Peninsula, the water temperature increases from the coast, where it is 20-21° (which is associated with the rise of water) to the central part of the sea (24°). In the southeastern part of the sea, the temperature in summer is 19-20°, and near the Laccadive Islands 18-19°. In winter, on the horizon of 100 m, the highest temperature occurs near the Laccadive Islands (27 °); along the coast of the Hindustan Peninsula it is 24°, in the central and western parts of the sea - from 21 to 23°.

IN vertical structure In the waters of the Arabian Sea, there are surface Arabian, intermediate (Persian-Arabian and Red Sea-Arabian), deep North Indian and bottom water masses.

Water temperature and salinity on the surface of the Arabian and Andaman seas in summer

Surface Arabian water mass(from 0 to 100-150 m) is formed under the influence of salinization during evaporation mainly in the northern part of the sea, from where it spreads to the south. The core of this water mass, determined by the maximum salinity (36.2-36.7‰), deepens from 20 to 75 m in the direction from north to south. The surface water mass is characterized by a temperature of 21-25° in winter and 22-28° in summer. The content of nutrients in this water mass is higher than in other areas of the Indian Ocean.

The intermediate (from 200-250 to 1500 m) Arabian water mass is formed under the influence of advection of warm waters of increased salinity: transformed Red Sea waters coming from the Gulf of Aden; waters of the Persian and Oman gulfs and mixing them with overlying waters. High salinity waters spread over a vast area, and their influence - a slight increase in salinity - can be traced not only in most of the Arabian Sea, but also in the western Indian Ocean.

A distinctive feature of the Persian-Arabian water mass is the maximum salinity (36.25-36.5‰) at a horizon of approximately 250 m, which characterizes the waters formed in the Persian Gulf (where salinity varies from 37-38‰ at the entrance to the bay to 40-41 ‰ in its western and northwestern parts) and flowing through the Gulf of Oman to the northern part of the sea. The water temperature varies from 10 to 16°. This water mass, about 200 m thick, spreads over most of the sea in winter, and in summer, with the development of the Somali current, it shifts to the east and southeast. Its upper limit is located at the horizon of 200-250 m, the lower one - at the horizon of 400 m.

The Red Sea-Arabian water mass is distinguished by the maximum salinity of the Red Sea origin (salinity in the water column of the Red Sea is more than 40‰). It is characterized by temperature from 10-12° at the upper limit to 5° at the lower. The salinity maximum (35.2-35.6‰) is most clearly expressed in the 500-800 m layer and spreads over the sea area up to 2°N. At the exit from the Gulf of Aden, the core of the maximum is located at a horizon of 800 m, in the central part of the sea - 600 m, and in the direction to the north and south it rises to 500 m. than 500 to 550 m, the lower one is at the horizon of 1200 m.

The intermediate water of the Arabian Sea has the maximum concentrations of nutrients for the Indian Ocean. In addition, a pronounced minimum of oxygen (0.1-0.5 ml/l) is observed in this water. It is formed due to the high consumption of oxygen during oxidative processes, the sharp density stratification of waters, which prevents the supply of oxygen from the overlying layers, and the limited exchange of waters of the Arabian Sea with the waters of the adjacent part of the Indian Ocean at intermediate horizons, which is due to the presence of two zones of divergence at the southern boundary of the sea.

The layer from 1500 to 3500 m in the Arabian Sea is occupied by the deep North Indian water mass, which is formed from the highly saline waters of the Arabian Sea and transformed Antarctic bottom waters. This water mass is characterized by a temperature of 3.5-4° at the upper boundary to 1.8-2° at the lower. Salinity varies from 34.75 to 34.9‰. The oxygen content is higher than in the intermediate water (2-3.5 ml/l).

Oxygen minimum in the Arabian Sea

The layer from 3500 m to the bottom is occupied by bottom waters. Main source their formations are the Weddell Sea, from where they spread north along the western coasts of all oceans, and in the Indian Ocean they fill all the basins to the most northern regions. The bottom waters of the Arabian Sea are characterized by a uniform distribution of hydrological characteristics: the temperature is in the range of 1.5-1.7°, the salinity is 34.74‰.

Economic importance

Explorer Submariner

The features of the structure and circulation of the waters of the Arabian Sea largely contribute to the fact that this sea belongs to the highly productive regions of the World Ocean.

The most favorable conditions for the development of phytoplankton are created in the summer in the shelf zone of the sea. This is ensured by the high content of nutrients entering the upper productive layer in upwelling areas.

In winter, in most of the shelf zone, the water is much poorer in phytoplankton than in summer. The high biomass of phytoplankton remains in the winter season only near the Gulf of Oman and the mouth of the river. Ind.

In the central part of the sea, on the contrary, favorable conditions for the development of phytoplankton are created in winter, when the water rises in the center of the cyclonic circulation. In summer, when the waters sink in the center of the anticyclonic circulation, the availability of mineral compounds of phosphorus and especially nitrogen is low. In this regard, the biomass and production of phytoplankton in summer is 5-6 times lower than in winter.

Sufficiently high values ​​of biomass and production of phyto- and zooplankton in the Arabian Sea are good prerequisites for the formation of commercial concentrations. The main environmental factor directly limiting the formation of such accumulations is the low oxygen content. For example, during the southwest monsoon, when oxygen-depleted waters rise to the shelf, fish mostly disperse and leave these areas.

The commercial value of the Arabian Sea is determined by the large stocks of fish (more than 1000 species) and crustaceans. However, most of the catches consist of five species of fish: two pelagic (two species of horse mackerel) and three demersal (Japanese crucian carp, saurid, sea ​​bass). Of the rest of the demersal and demersal fish, the highest numbers are spar, stone perches (merrow), catfish, croakers (captain), etc.

In the shelf zone of the sea, the population of the Japanese crucian carp is the most numerous and widespread.

In the central part of the sea, large fish such as yellowfin and bigeye tuna are fished, as well as various kinds sharks Tunas are heat-loving fish, and their distribution is greatly influenced by water temperature and the position of the thermocline, which limits their vertical movement. Tuna catches in the Arabian Sea are 3-4 times less than in the equatorial zone of the Indian Ocean. Towards the south, where the upper limit of the oxygen-deficient layer is deeper, the number of tuna increases.

The stocks of the main commercial fish in the Arabian Sea, especially off the east coast, are exploited quite intensively, and some commercial species are already in a depressed state. Commercial ichthyofauna is adversely affected by water pollution by oil products (especially in the northern part of the sea), agricultural and domestic wastewater. The marine environment in the shelf zone of the Arabian Sea needs to be restored and protected.