Abstract
The storm surge phenomenon in the Arabian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, is discussed with particular emphasis on the development of mathematical models for prediction purposes. The Gulf is mainly influenced by extra-tropical weather systems, whereas the region south of the Strait of Hormuz is affected by tropical cyclones. The west-to-east directed extra-tropical cyclone tracks and the generally east-to-west directed tropical cyclone tracks converge near the Strait of Hormuz. A meso-scale weather system that deserves special attention in prescribing the meteorological forcing functions is the so-called ‘winter Shamal’. A two-dimensional numerical model is developed to study the storm surges in the Arabian Gulf. The results show that the Gulf is subject to major negative and positive storm surges. Strong winds associated with the Shamal system, coupled with atmospheric pressure gradients, topography and tidal effects, can give rise to water level deviations of several meters. Storm surges observed during the period 17–19 January 1973 show that negative values in the 0.5 to 1.0m range were widespread in the Gulf.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
El-Sabh, M. I. and Murty, T. S.: 1988, Simulation of the movement and dispersion of oil slicks in the Arabian Gulf, Natural Hazards 1, 197–219
Haurwitz, B. and Austin, J. M.: 1944, Climatology, McGraw-Hill, New York.
IMCOS: 1973, Gulf tidal anomalies, 17–19 January 1973. Oil Companies' Weather Co-ordination Scheme. IMCOS Marine Ltd, London, Technical Note No. 1.
Murty, T. S.: 1984, Storm surges-meteorological ocean tides, Bull. 212, Canadian J. Fish. Aquatic Sc., Ottawa.
Murty, T. S. and El-Sabh, M. I.: 1984, Storm tracks, storm surges and sea state in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, in M. I. El-Sabh (ed.) Oceanographic Modelling of the Kuwait Action Plan (KAP) Region, UNESCO Reports in Marine Sciences, No. 28, pp. 12–24.
Murty, T. S. and El-Sabh, M. I.: 1985. Modelling of the movement of oil slicks in the Inner Gulf of the Kuwait Action Plan Region during stormy periods: Application to the Nowruz spill, UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies No. 70, 279–298.
Perrone, I. J.: 1981, Winter Shamal in the Persian Gulf, Naval Environmental Prediction Research Facility, Monterey, Calif. Technical Report I.R. 79–06.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
El-Sabh, M.I., Murty, T.S. Storm surges in the Arabian Gulf. Nat Hazards 1, 371–385 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00134834
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00134834