Air–sea interactions in stable atmospheric  conditions: lessons from the desert  semi-enclosed Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)

Abir, Shai; McGowan, Hamish A.; Shaked, Yonatan; Gildor, Hezi; Morin, Efrat; Lensky, Nadav G.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6177-2024

Articles | Volume 24, issue 10

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6177-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6177-2024

© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 24, issue 10

Research article

|

28 May 2024

Research article |

| 28 May 2024

Air–sea interactions in stable atmospheric conditions: lessons from the desert semi-enclosed Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba)

Shai Abir, Hamish A. McGowan, Yonatan Shaked, Hezi Gildor, Efrat Morin, and Nadav G. Lensky

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-24-6177-2024-supplement

Data sets

2 years Eddy Covariance measurements over the Gulf of Eilat (Aqaba), V1 S. Abir et al. https://doi.org/10.17632/wmtdmjgsfp.1

ERA5 hourly data on pressure levels from 1940 to present H. Hersbach et al. https://doi.org/10.24381/cds.68d2bb30

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Short summary

Understanding air–sea heat exchange is vital for studying ocean dynamics. Eddy covariance measurements over the Gulf of Eilat revealed a 3.22 m yr^-1 evaporation rate, which is inconsistent with bulk formulae estimations in stable atmospheric conditions, requiring bulk formulae to be revisited in these environments. The surface fluxes have a net cooling effect on the gulf water on an annual mean (-79 W m^-2), balanced by a strong exchange flux between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eilat.