A NOTE ON THE RESIDUAL CURRENTS IN THE ARABIAN GULF

The residual circulation in the Arabian Gulf is discussed on the basis of current meter data obtained by R.V. Mt. Mitchell (NOAA) during Mar ch-May, 1992 at five mooring stations. The average velocity of the sur face residuals is about 6 cm s(-1) and the magnitude of the bottom res iduals is of the same order. The residual currents indicate a surface how into and a deep how out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. The surface water flows along the Iranian coast and seems to form an a nticlockwise gyre in the southern half of the Gulf during winter. This gyre probably extends further northwards in early summer due to the o nset of the southwest monsoon during which, the surface flow into the Gulf increases.