Temperature inversion in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

Water exchange between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman occurs in a form of hydrostatically stable temperature inversion layers. The surface advection into the Arabian Gulf is accompanied by density excess, while the deep outflow into the Gulf of Oman is isopycnal. The subsurface intrusions into the Gulf of Oman are influenced by both processes associated with double diffusion, salt fingering and layering. In contrast, surface advection into the Arabian Gulf is influenced by layering at the upper diffusive interface. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.