Evaluation of the Gulf of Aqaba Coastal Water, Jordan

摘要: (1) Background: The Gulf of Aqaba (GoA) supports unique and diverse marine ecosystems. It is one the highest anthropogenically impacted coasts in Middle East region, where rapid human activities are likely to degrade these naturally but stressed (2) Methods: Various water quality parameters were measured assess current status conditions GoA seawater including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity (TA), Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, PO43−, NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Sr, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn. (3) Results: pH values indicated basic coastal waters. elevated levels TDS with an average about 42 g/L highly saline conditions. Relatively low inorganic nutrients observed consistent prevalence oligotrophic seawater. concentrations SO42− surface layer varied spatially from 423–487, 2246–2356, 9542–12,647, 513–713, 9.2–10.4, 22,173–25,992, 317–407 mg/L, respectively. Pb Zn ranged 0.51, 0.38, 1.44, 1.29, 0.88, 6.05 µg/L, (4) Conclusions: prevailing high temperatures, evaporation rates, stratification intense dust storms major contributing factors chemistry. distribution variables showed spatial variations no specific patterns, except for metal contents which exhibited southward increasing trends, closed industrial complex. vast majority relatively higher compared those other regions.