The Red Sea The Formation, Morphology, Oceanography and Environment
This book presents a broad overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the Red Sea, from its geological formation and oceanographic development to the environmental influences on its ecology and the changes it is experiencing due to the rapid dev
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Najeeb M.A. Rasul Ian C.F. Stewart Editors
The Red Sea The Formation, Morphology, Oceanography and Environment of a Young Ocean Basin
The Red Sea
Springer Earth System Sciences
Series editors Philippe Blondel, Bath, UK Eric Guilyardi, Paris, France Jorge Rabassa, Ushuaia, Argentina Clive Horwood, Chichester, UK
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/10178
Najeeb M.A. Rasul Ian C.F. Stewart Editors
The Red Sea The Formation, Morphology, Oceanography and Environment of a Young Ocean Basin
123
Editors Najeeb M.A. Rasul Saudi Geological Survey Center for Marine Geology Jeddah Saudi Arabia
ISSN 2197-9596
Ian C.F. Stewart Stewart Geophysical Consultants Pty. Ltd. Adelaide, SA Australia
ISSN 2197-960X
(electronic)
Springer Earth System Sciences
ISBN 978-3-662-45200-4 ISBN 978-3-662-45201-1 DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014956496 Springer Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper Springer-Verlag GmbH Berlin Heidelberg is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
The Red Sea is unique in all respects, including its tectonic history, environment and biology. It is a young ocean basin that along its length has undergone or is undergoing the transition from a continental rift to true oceanic seafloor spreading, the nature of which is still open to vigorous debate. In addition, due to its semi-enclosed nature and location within an arid region, the environment is affected by high evaporation rates that together with limited contact with the Indian Ocean results in high temperatures and salinities. Lower sea levels in the past have also led to extensive evaporite deposition within its basin, while brines and metallic deposits in the axial deeps have been the subject of considerable research; the metalliferous muds may be exploited at some stage in the future. The condition
