KAUST’s research on the Red Sea is providing crucial insights into how nutrient cycling and oceanic circulation might evolve in response to climate change, offering a potential model for future oceanic conditions.

Ibrahim Hoteit, Associate Professor of Earth Science and Engineering at KAUST, is leading efforts to model the Red Sea’s oceanic and atmospheric circulation, focusing on nutrient dynamics driven by the Arabian monsoon. His work has revealed that more intense monsoons, resulting from global warming, could increase nutrient influx from the Arabian Sea, enhancing fertility in a warmer Red Sea.

“Model simulations provide an efficient way to investigate the link between the large-scale variability of the atmosphere and ocean and the flux of nutrients that control primary production,” Hoteit explained. He also co-developed a 3D-coupled physical-biological model that simulates the movement of dissolved inorganic nutrients and the behavior of plankton and bacteria in response to these nutrients.

Hoteit's research is particularly valuable in light of the significant environmental changes observed in the Red Sea. Since the early 1990s, there has been a noticeable increase in surface water temperatures, which could push marine organisms beyond their tolerance limits. Through his modeling work, Hoteit aims to predict the impacts of these changes on nutrient availability and ecosystem health, providing a clearer picture of how global warming could affect oceans worldwide.

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