Where does the Arabian Sea flow into? Bottom relief and bottom sediments

It flows into the Arabian Sea major river Ind. The shores are high, rocky, in some places low-lying deltaic; indented with bays and bays. The largest gulfs: Aden in the West (connected by the Babel-Mandeb Strait to the Red Sea), Oman in the northwest (connected by the Strait of Hormuz to the Persian Gulf), Kutch and Cambay in N-E of the islands few, they are all located off the coast; the largest islands are Socotra and Laccadive.

The bottom relief is leveled, has a general slope from North to South. To the West extends the Murri underwater ridge, over which the depths decrease to 349 and 1993 m. coral islands- coral sand.

Climate Arabian Sea monsoon. Winds prevail in winter northeast directions, which bring clear cool weather, in summer - southwesterly winds that determine cloudy, humid weather. Typhoons are frequent in spring, summer and autumn. In winter the air temperature is 20-25°C, in summer 25-29°C. Precipitation varies from 23-125 mm per year in the West to 3100 mm in the East with a maximum in the summer months.

Surface currents are directed to the West in winter, to the East in summer. The water temperature on the sea surface in winter is 22-27°C, in summer 23-28°C with a maximum of 29°C in May. Salinity 35.8-36.5%. The tides are irregular, semi-diurnal, their height is up to 5.1 m. Under the influence of the deep waters of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Sea at a depth of up to 1500 m, the temperature is above 5 ° C, salinity exceeds 35%. Fauna: dugong, flying fish, tuna, swordfish, south. herring, reef fish, sailboats, etc.

Main ports: Colombo, Bombay, Karachi, Aden.

Sandy shore of the Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea is located in the northwestern part 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 (without the Gulfs of Aden, Oman and Persian, whose area is 611 thousand km 2, volume - 518 thousand km 3), average depth- 3006 m, maximum depth - 5803 m.

Indian Ocean

Climate

The main features of the climate of the Arabian Sea are determined by the peculiarities of its geographical position. 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 characterized by the greatest variety of 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 the transitional months, especially in spring, baric fields often form over the northern part of the Indian Ocean, which determine light winds(3-4 m/s) 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.

The main feature of the climatic conditions associated with monsoons is the 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 sygysium near Aden is 2.5 m and increases along northern shores to the east, reaching 5.7 m at 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. At northeast coast Africa in this season, the Somali current is formed, which is characterized by high speed, in some cases exceeding 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 coast of Somalia, the Arabian Peninsula, west coast The Hindustan Peninsula is experiencing a rise in waters, 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. Arrival at the sea surface a large number solar energy causes its high top 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 Maximum temperature on the surface (28°) 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 the vertical structure of 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

The 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 entering through the Gulf of Oman into northern part seas. 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. The upper limit of the Red Sea-Arabian water mass in different areas the sea is located on the horizons from less than 500 to 550 m, the lower one - on 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. The main source of their formation is the Weddell Sea, from where they spread northward along western coasts all oceans, and in the Indian Ocean they fill all the basins to the very northern regions. The bottom waters of the Arabian Sea are characterized by a homogeneous distribution hydrological characteristics: temperature is in the range of 1.5-1.7 °, 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 catch consists 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 big influence exerts the temperature of the water 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.

The most beautiful places, unforgettable impressions await the traveler who decides to look at the Arabian Sea. With endless white sandy beaches, inner world life of exotic fish among the emerald coral reefs, mangroves, palm groves on the atolls.

This exotic seduces the traveler, overwhelms with grace, beauty and power, a paradise created by nature for thousands of species of inhabitants, overwhelming with their colors and diversity. While cruising on a huge snow-white liner, you will visit the United Arab Emirates, India.

Arabian Sea - what is it?

Part of the Indian Ocean. The sea is semi-enclosed. This means that the southern border runs along the Indian Ocean, the eastern border washes the coast Arabian Peninsula, western - Hindustan Peninsula. What is the area of ​​the sea, depth, what rivers flow? The area of ​​the Arabian Sea is 3862 thousand km2. But this is according to geographical data. If we take into account the bottom topography, currents, then the sea area is considered to be 4832 thousand km2.

The bottom is divided into the Arabian Basin and the Somali Basin, which are limited by two plateaus, separated by the Carlsberg Range. In the Arabian Basin is deepest place- 5803 meters. The average estimated depth is 2734 meters.


The largest flowing river is the Indus. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau, flows 3180 km through the territory of India, flows into near the city of Hyderabad. From India, 3 more rivers flow into the Arabian Sea - Vapapattanam, Chaliyar, Kadalundi. Rivers flow from Pakistan: Arabis, Layari.

With which countries does the land border pass, length?

The Arabian Sea washes the shores of 8 countries:
  1. India. 3 thousand kilometers of coast. Hundreds of kilometers of ultra-modern, with developed infrastructure or wild, untouched beaches.
  2. Pakistan. The length of the coastline is 1046 kilometers. Majestic landscapes of the coast, the mystery of mango thickets are adjacent to the most beautiful sandy and rocky places for swimming. largest port Pakistan - Karachi. Most visited beaches: Mubarak Beach, French Beach, PAF Hut.
  3. Union Territory of Lakshadweep - atolls with an infinite number of military bases in India and neighboring tourist resorts. There are many beautiful things on the atolls. sandy beaches, untouched fabulous nature, groves of coconut palms. Paradise for the traveller. Entry by the number of tourists is limited.

  1. Iran. Here the Arabian Sea merges into the Persian Gulf. The coast is constantly exposed to ebbs and flows (up to 5 meters high). It is difficult to get close to the shore. The only thing resort place- Kish Island. The beaches are sandy, but the shallows continue up to 100 meters. Swimming for kids is perfect. Bathing places are divided into male and female. The resort is Muslim, they do not sell alcohol (but you can find alcohol if you wish).
  2. United United Arab Emirates. Coastline 700 kilometers long. Beautiful azure beaches.
Popular - pebbly Shark Island with an exotic rock Snuli Rock, sandy, infinitely long in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, on the island of Bahrain Island. They are geared towards tourism comfortable rest. With endless strings of 5* hotels, great tourist service.
  1. Oman. clean, beautiful beaches. Sandy and rocky shores.
Beautiful White sand adjacent to magnificent rocks, leaving in the purest azure water, inhabited by an endless number of exotic inhabitants among coral reefs.
  1. Yemen. Favorite place, Mecca Of Tourists In Yemen - Shuab Bay. picturesque beach With white sand, warm, calm, azure sea.
  2. Somalia. A huge number of rocky and sandy beaches, abandoned, inaccessible to tourists due to the difficult political situation within the country.

What is the flora and fauna of the Arabian Sea, what exotic fish and marine animals live?

The flora of the Arabian Sea is not so much diverse as the fauna. In areas of coral reefs, it seems to the scuba diver that there is less water than small exotic fish. They constantly scurry around, as if offering to look at themselves, posing for a photo or video.

Constantly warm water, an abundance of zooplankton, form favorable conditions for the biological activity of fish populations.

Madrepore corals, red and brown algae, mangroves, phytoplankton create underwater reefs, entire atolls, as cities of habitat for hundreds of species of fish. These are flying fish, anchovies, sea bass, tuna, marlin, cuttlefish, squid, octopus, hundreds of species of small exotic fish.


Tourists are frightened by stingrays and sharks. But in the areas of beaches there are none, the stingrays are not comfortable because of the constant waves, the sharks themselves are afraid of humans - they catch them to feast on their fins.

On Indian coasts a lot of sea ​​urchins, turtles, snakes. Do not believe the legends, these inhabitants are safe, not poisonous, do not attack humans.

What sea cruises are provided by travel companies?

Pay attention to offers travel company Atoll Cruise. WITH cruise company Celebrity Cruises on their Celebrity Constellation will take you 15 unforgettable days, visit the UAE, Oman, India. Cross the Arabian Sea twice. To your attention on board the liner there will be various entertainment events, shows, round-the-clock Buffet, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sports grounds. It remains only to relax and attend scheduled events on time.


This will require a double entry visa to the UAE and a single entry visa to India. Get unforgettable impressions from visiting Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bombay, Mangopor, Goa. You will spend a full five days enjoying the beauty of the Arabian Sea. Believe me, such a trip is worth any cost.

Do not delay, plan a trip to the Arabian Sea. You will see with your own eyes the luxury of the United Arab Emirates, you will visit India, Oman, you will be in the Indian Ocean for 5 days. Take a bunch of photos and videos, leave a piece of your soul to the local beauties. Good luck to you!

Goa is tropical southern state India, surrounded on the west by the Arabian Sea. It is surrounded by the Western Ghats to the east. environment and geographical position significantly affect the climate and weather in Goa and tourists need to take this into account. The rainy season in Goa starts in June and lasts until September. What is happening in Goa at this time: ...

The boundaries of the Arabian Sea, according to the definition of the International Hydrographic Bureau, are set to the south-west along the line of Cape Hafun (Somalia) - Addu Atoll, then along the western edge of the Maldives and Laccadive Islands to the Sada-Chivjad lighthouse (west coast of India, 14 ° 48 "N. latitude ,74°07" E). Within these boundaries, the area of ​​the Arabian Sea is about 3683 thousand km2. Within the Arabian Sea, two large gulfs are distinguished: Aden and Oman.


In terms of oceanography, Schott drew the boundaries of the Arabian Sea as follows: the southern boundary runs from the coast of India near the island of Goa along the western coast of the Laccadive Islands to the equator, from there it deviates slightly south to a point on the east coast of Africa near Mombasa, approximately 5 ° S . sh. Apart from the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman, within these boundaries the area of ​​the Arabian Sea is 7456 thousand km2. It includes 95% of the Arabian Basin and two-thirds of the deepest northern part of the Somali Basin.

The water area between the Laccadive Islands and the island of Sri Lanka (according to the definition of the International Hydrographic Bureau - the Laccadive Sea), Schott does not consider, based on the study of water masses, as part of the Arabian Sea.

Bottom relief and bottom sediments

The Arabian Sea is divided by the Carlsberg Ridge and the northwestern continuation of the Central Indian Ridge into two large basins, the depth of which is more than 3600 m: the Arabian in the northeast and the Somali in the southwest. The Somali basin connects with the Mascarene and Madagascar basins in the south, the depth of the rapids is more than 3600 m. Greatest depth The depths of the Somali basin exceed 4600 m. In the Arabian basin, depths up to 5300 m were measured. The depth of the threshold between the Arabian and Somali basins is approximately 3000 m. The basins of the Arabian Sea are limited by two underwater plateaus. The southwestern plateau, extending from about 15° S. latitude, 65° east d., known as the Seychelles-Mauritius Range, reaches northwest to the Seychelles and Amirante Islands. The eastern plateau, stretching from the Chagos archipelago approximately along the meridian of 73 ° E, passes through the region of the Maldives and Laccadive Islands and connects with southwestern part Indian shelf. The depth of both plateaus is less than 1800 m almost throughout. depth Carlsberg Ridge 1800-3600 m. Depths greater than 3600 m are observed in the median rift valley in the central part of the mid-ocean ridge. rift valley turns west, north of Socotra Island, joining the East African Rifts southwest of the Gulf of Aden.

Near the southern tip of India, the shelf is about 120 km wide and up to 220 m deep. To the north, the shelf narrows to 56 km at 11 "N, but near the Gulf of Cambay it widens again to 352 km at a depth of 90 m. The Indian shelf is largely covered sand, but sometimes silt occurs Further north, as far as Karachi, the shelf is 185 km or more wide.In this area, the shelf is covered mainly by silt.The outer edge of the shelf is sandy.Near the Indus River, the shelf is cut by a submarine canyon.West of Karachi the shelf sharply narrows and on the Makran coast its average width reaches 37 km, then decreases in a westerly direction.The edge of the shelf along the Makran coast is also shallower, its average depth is 37 m.

At the top of the Gulf of Oman there is a wide shelf covered with silt. From the Gulf of Oman, the Oman Basin extends, in which depths of more than 1800 m have been found. The Oman Basin passes into a trench running parallel to the Makran coast, separated by the narrow Murray Range from the Arabian Basin proper.

The Murray Range also extends southwest to the Carlsberg Range. Along Arabian coast The Indian shelf stretches in a narrow strip. The bottom is covered with sand, mainly of terrigenous or eolian origin. The shelf is approximately 37 km across in the Gulf of Aden at the entrance to the Red Sea, where it is cut by a channel with a depth of more than 183 m. From Cape Guardafui to Mombasa, along the Somali coast, an exceptionally narrow shelf suggests a faulting nature of the coast formation.

The continental slope of the Arabian Sea to a depth of about 2750 m is covered with sediments of terrigenous origin. A significant part of the Arabian and Somali basins (depths of more than 4000 m) are covered with deep-sea red clay, the rest - with calcareous globigerine silts.

The thickness of precipitation decreases from 2500 m in the northern part of the Arabian Basin to 500 m in the southern part. According to seismic measurements carried out by the Scripps Oceanographic Institution expedition, the thickness of the sediments is 870 m at 8° 19" N, 70° 32" E. which is in accordance with the map of Neprochnov. At 9° 5 s. latitude, 73° east on western slope The thickness of the precipitation of 1870 m was recorded in the Maldives-Laccadive Range. Neprochnov's data also show a thickening of the sediment layer to the west of the Ninth Degree Strait between the Maldives and Laccadive Islands.

The origin and geological history of the ridges of the Arabian Sea and the topography of its bottom are still hypothetical, and along with others, the hypotheses of continental drift, continental bridges and the immutability of ocean basins and continents are considered. However, geologists usually agree that the topography of the bottom of the Arabian Sea took shape in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic era, while significant sections of it formed only in the Pliocene era.

Hydrological regime

Surface currents. Monsoons are the dominant factor in the formation of surface currents. The northeast monsoon prevails from November to March; winds are light to moderate and this season is called mild. Precipitation is negligible as the winds blow from the mainland. During this period, there is a weak northeast monsoon drift current, which heads south along the coast of India; then about 10° N. sh. it turns west; one of its branches merges into Gulf of Aden, the other heading south along the Somali coast.

Between the waters of the Arabian Sea and the North Trade Wind, south of the island Sri Lanka is forming a convergence zone, which develops as a result of the contrast in the salinity of surface waters of different origin.

Atmospheric pressure and wind distribution north of the equator change dramatically during April, and stronger moist winds, the southwest monsoon, set in until November. Surface currents immediately respond to changes in wind direction. A branch of the South Equatorial Current turns north between 5° S. sh. and the equator and goes along the coast of Africa, then flows into the Arabian Sea as a strong Somali Current at a speed of up to 7 knots. Behind Socotra Island, the Somali current becomes part of the anticyclone circulation, which continues to the northeast along the coast of the Arabian Peninsula, then south along the coast of India up to 10 sec. latitude, where it joins the southwestern monsoon drift current, heading eastward between 5 and 10°N. sh. Further, both currents continue to mix to the east, south of the island of Sri Lanka. During the southwest monsoon, off the coasts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, there is an intensive rise of deep waters to the surface.

Seasonal changes in the surface layer. Significant seasonal changes water temperatures are observed from the surface to the horizon of 100 m in the central part of the Arabian Sea.
Minimum temperature(24-25 ° C) of the surface layer occur in January-February. There are two temperature maxima (over 28°C): one in June, another in November and a secondary minimum (26°C) in August. On the horizon of 100 m in the region of 16–23° N. latitude, 59–64° E e. the maximum temperature (22 ° C) occurs in February, the minimum (20 ° C) - in September (the minimum temperature is caused by the rise of deep waters to the surface near the Arabian coast). On the horizon of 100 m in the region of 14–19° N. latitude, 64–69° E on the contrary, the minimum temperature (20°C) occurs in February, the maximum (24°C) in September. During the rainy season (southwest monsoon) salinity less was observed in the upper 50 m. During the northeast monsoon, salinity of more than 36 salinity was found on the surface of the Arabian Sea north of 5°N. sh., with the exception of the area along the Somali coast, where values ​​less than 35.5 ind.

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 Arab Emirates also go to the Persian Gulf, 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:

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    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, Omani, Kutch, Cambay. Major islands: Socotra, Laccadives. 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