The Hydrography of the Suez Canal
57
In July 1963 "Atlantis 11" measured 26° C and 26S C at the Mediterranean
and Red Sea entrances, respectively, whereas in the Canal the maximum was
30S C. This is a difference wh ich has to be reckoned with, although it stands to
reason that in the shallow lagoons of Suez and even in those near Port Said the
temperatures were at the same time probably no less than at Kabrit!
Minimum temperatures in the Canal system are rather low: Wimpenny reports 14- 14.3° C in January-February 1929 in the northern part of the Canal and
Lake Timsah ; surface temperatures between 14- 15° C are indicated for the northern part of the Canal for February 1965 ; and somewhat higher 16° C was measured by Gruvel in April 1933 in the Bitter Lake.
From the open waters of the Gulf of Suez, minimum temperatures of 16° C
were reported (Morcos, 1970). However in the shallow lagoons of the northern
Red Sea the low winter temperatur es may often descend to as low as 10- 11 ° C. In
the inshore waters of the Mediterranean, minima of 15.4° C have been measured.
Even lower values have been found in the Sirbonic Lagoon (Bardawil Lagoon).
Being exposed to a similar regime of evaporation and winds during the winter,
it seems that there is no significant difference in the minimum temperatures of the
shallow waters around the Sinai Peninsula. Temperature barriers, both low and
high, for the spread of marine organisms should not be taken into account for the
2
3 4
5
6
7 8
I
"
I
n
m
ll[
3Z:
3ZI
:w
3ZIII
:IX
X
::xr
:xn.
I
,
0
50
100
150km
F ig.23. Isohalines in Suez Canal, from Port Said to Gulf of Suez, at depth of 6 m (from Wüst,
1934)
57
In July 1963 "Atlantis 11" measured 26° C and 26S C at the Mediterranean
and Red Sea entrances, respectively, whereas in the Canal the maximum was
30S C. This is a difference wh ich has to be reckoned with, although it stands to
reason that in the shallow lagoons of Suez and even in those near Port Said the
temperatures were at the same time probably no less than at Kabrit!
Minimum temperatures in the Canal system are rather low: Wimpenny reports 14- 14.3° C in January-February 1929 in the northern part of the Canal and
Lake Timsah ; surface temperatures between 14- 15° C are indicated for the northern part of the Canal for February 1965 ; and somewhat higher 16° C was measured by Gruvel in April 1933 in the Bitter Lake.
From the open waters of the Gulf of Suez, minimum temperatures of 16° C
were reported (Morcos, 1970). However in the shallow lagoons of the northern
Red Sea the low winter temperatur es may often descend to as low as 10- 11 ° C. In
the inshore waters of the Mediterranean, minima of 15.4° C have been measured.
Even lower values have been found in the Sirbonic Lagoon (Bardawil Lagoon).
Being exposed to a similar regime of evaporation and winds during the winter,
it seems that there is no significant difference in the minimum temperatures of the
shallow waters around the Sinai Peninsula. Temperature barriers, both low and
high, for the spread of marine organisms should not be taken into account for the
2
3 4
5
6
7 8
I
"
I
n
m
ll[
3Z:
3ZI
:w
3ZIII
:IX
X
::xr
:xn.
I
,
0
50
100
150km
F ig.23. Isohalines in Suez Canal, from Port Said to Gulf of Suez, at depth of 6 m (from Wüst,
1934)