Abstract
Calculations for surface heat fluxes were made for the southern, central and northern regions of the Red Sea, based on monthly mean meteorological variables in the respective areas. The average annual values of sensible heat, evaporative and net long-wave radiation fluxes for the Red Sea as whole are, respectively: -3 Wm super(-2), 169 Wm super(-2) and 66 Wm super(-2). The average of the recorded solar radiations at various stations along the eastern side of the three regions of the Red Sea is 210 Wm super(-2). The advective oceanic heat flow of 19 Wm super(-2) into the Red Sea at Bab-el-Mandab was calculated on the basis of the average seasonal temperature difference between the upper and lower layers and the variations of the in- and outflows. The deficit of 22 Wm super(-2) at the air-sea interface is in fair agreement with the heat gain of 19 Wm super(-2) through the straits of Bab-el-Mandab.