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    Physical and Chemical Oceanography

    Physical and Chemical Oceanography research group provides scientific advice on how to maintain a healthy and sustainable marine environment; to generate benefits to the nation; to protect the marine ecosystem from climate change; to enlighten the community and stakeholders through scientific publications, outreach activities and educational programs.

    Research

    • In physical oceanography, we focus on studying the water column structure, air-sea interaction, influence of winds (shamal, kaus and nashi), tides and density gradients on circulation, wave characteristics, sediment transport, morphological changes due to coastal developments and various coastal processes using measurements, modelling and remote sensing.
    • Ongoing research of the group involves studying the hydrography and circulation within exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar and the seasonal and inter-annual variability in the distribution of oceanographic parameters and identification of water masses. Hydrographical data (temperature, salinity, optical and current profiles) and surf-met data are collected using the equipment onboard R.V Janan and analyzed to investigate the influence of oceanic and atmospheric forcing at various spatial and temporal scales.
    • Numerical modelling is performed to complement observational studies for a more comprehensive understanding of the coupled ocean-atmosphere-system, sediment and particle dynamics and to predict the state of the marine environment as impacted by natural and anthropogenic stressors. Numerical modelling studies are carried out using high-performance computing clusters.
    • As the processes/phenomena occurring in any part of the Arabian/Persian Gulf will have impact on the marine environment of Qatar, EEZ of Qatar cannot be studied in isolation, especially while modelling circulation, waves and pollutant transports, and we need to consider the whole Gulf as one domain.
    • The research group uses onboard, portable and moored instrumentation to collect oceanographic data on waves, currents and tides. Data analysis, management ∓ visualization is performed using state-of-the-art software and computer programming. Besides own research, the group also provides technical and scientific support for hydrographic data acquisition and analysis to other ESC, QU and national & international research teams and projects.

    Oceanographic instrumentation

    Oceanographic instrumentationNatural ecosystems are collapsing worldwide, losing their biological functionality and consequently losing their economic productivity. Aiming to address this severe threat, we are developing new strategies for restoring natural ecosystems.

    • We use highly sophisticated instruments to collect oceanographic data onboard RV Janan and winched boats. The Recording Current Meters (RCM), Water Level Recorders (WLR) and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) are moored at select locations in the EEZ of Qatar for time series measurements of waves, tides and currents. The CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) system is used to measure physical parameters.
    • CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) systems onboard RV JANAN: consist of a SeaBird SBE-911plus CTD attached to a SeaBird SBE-32 Carousel Water Sampler and a stand-alone SeaBird SBE-25 CTD. SBE-911plus and SBE-25 also feature auxiliary sensors for measuring optical properties (fluorescence, turbidity, photosynthetically available radiation [PAR], light transmission-attenuation-scattering) and chemical properties (pH, dissolved oxygen).
    • Thermosalinograph: SeaBird SBE-21 SeaCAT thermosalinograph onboard RV JANAN is used for continuous underway measurement of sea surface temperature and salinity
    • Moving-vessel current profiling: Teledyne RDI Ocean Surveyor OS-150kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) hull-mounted on the RV JANAN and Teledyne RDI Workhorse Sentinel 600kHz 600kHz ADCP are equipped onboard RV Janan to profile vertical currents.
    • Moored current measurements: Moored ADCPs (Teledyne RDI Sentinel V50 500kHz and Nortek Aquadopp Z-cell 1MHz) and RCM current meters (Aanderaa SeaGuard) are used to collect point and profile current data. MiniTiDE WLRs (for water level) and Acoustic Releases are also available for mooring and deployment.
    • Navigational and meteorological data: Navigational and atmospheric underway data are collected using RV JANAN’s navigational equipment and the onboard meteorological station.

    Data Analysis, Management and Visualization: The measured and reanalysis met-ocean data are analyzed critically to evaluate scientific features/issues in the Arabian Gulf and EEZ of Qatar. The widely recognized reanalysis data from the global sources such as NCEP/CFSR, ERA, CMEMS are evaluated to tackle the long-term variabilities in met-ocean parameters. Sophisticated programs and visualization tools are used for deriving the statistics, plotting and interpretations. State-of-the-art computer hardware, software and own programming is utilized to implement oceanographic databases and to analyze and visualize oceanographic data.

    Recent Studies

    Long-term assessment of onshore and offshore wind energy potentials of Qatar Variability in physical and biogeochemical parameters in the central Arabian Gulf Maxima in northerly wind speeds and wave heights over the Arabian Sea, the Arabian/ Persian Gulf and the Red Sea derived from 40 years of ERA5 data Extreme value analysis of wave climate around Farasan Islands, southern Red sea

    Research

    • Research activities in chemical oceanography are focused on exploring the broad spectrum of processes that influence chemical cycling and biogeochemical dynamics of marine water, biota and sediments within EEZ of Qatar. Critical to these efforts are considerations of how seawater chemistry influences and responds to biological activity and the impact of anthropogenic activity on the marine environment.
    • We use a combination of laboratory and field-based approaches. Our studies are typically interdisciplinary and involve integration of chemical concepts with information about the physical, biological, or geological processes that influence natural systems. Areas of study include: Organic and inorganic chemistry of seawater; Stratification and hydrography based on chemical and isotopic tracers; Isotopic geochemistry of sediments and suspended particulate matter; Geochemical interaction of sediments with seawater and interstitial waters; Geochemistry of aeolian (dust) inputs and lithogenic sources; Geochemical cycles of carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and other elements; Chemistry of hypoxic and anoxic systems; Marine carbonate system chemistry and ocean acidification.
    • Hydrographical (e.g. temperature, salinity, density, currents), biological (e.g. bacteria, chlorophyll-a, phytoplankton, zooplankton, jellyfish, crustaceans, bivalves, fish), chemical (e.g. nutrients, dissolved oxygen, pH, trace and heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants), optical (fluorescence, turbidity, photo synthetically active radiation -PAR-, light transmission and attenuation), and meteorological data (wind speed and direction) are collected aboard Qatar University’s state-of-the-art research vessel RV Janan. The ship is equipped to the highest standard and offers the opportunity for prolonged and extensive sampling in the Gulf Region as well as in the waters of the Arabian Sea, Sea of Oman, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
    • During our marine surveys, sampling stations are selected based on various dynamical aspects of Qatar EEZ. Some of the current seasonal observation campaigns involve hydrographic and biogeochemical sampling at coastal and offshore stations on sectors over the eastern shelf of Qatar Peninsula, extending about 200 km to a maximum depth of 67m.
    • Students are conducting research to understand: regional and seasonal hydrography & biogeochemistry of Qatari waters, which is essential for prediction of effects of environmental stresses and global change; water column structure and distribution of water masses in order to determine properties and status of various habitats; assessment of seawater quality and marine productivity. Results obtained from these hydrographic and biogeochemical studies are expected to form a strong oceanographic knowledge base, provide scientific support for decision makers and national stakeholders and help mitigate harmful impacts of environmental factors (e.g. fish kills, coral reef bleaching, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia). Critical to these efforts are considerations of how ocean chemistry influences and responds to biological activity and the impact of anthropogenic activity on the marine environment.

    Recent Studies

    Field and laboratory investigation of tarmat deposits found on Ras Rakan Island and northern beaches of Qatar Spatial distribution, structural characterization and weathering of tarmats along the west coast of Qatar WorldView-3 mapping of tarmat deposits of the Ras Rakan Island, northern Coast of Qatar Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar Factors influencing the vertical distribution of microplastics in the beach sediments around the Ras Rakan Island, Qatar Contributions of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research

    Journals

    1. Aboobacker, V.M., Shanas, P.R., Veerasingam, S., Ibrahim M.A.S. Al-Ansari, Fadhil N Sadooni, Vethamony, P., 2021: Long-term assessment of onshore and offshore wind energy potentials of Qatar, Energies (In Press).
    2. Rajendran. S, Vethamony. P, Sadooni F.N, Hamad Al Saad, Jassim A. Al-Khayat, Govil. H, Nasir. S (2021). Detection of Wakashio oil spill off Mauritius using Sentinel-1 and 2 data: capability of sensors, image transformation methods and mapping. Environmental Pollution (in press).
    3. Rajendran, S, Sadooni, F.N, Hamad Al Saad, Govil, H., Nasir, S, Vethamony, P (2021) Monitoring Oil Spill in Norilsk, Russia using satellite data. Scientific Reports (in press).
    4. Rakib, M.F., Al-Ansari, E.M.A.S., Husrevoglu, S., Yigiterhan, O., Al-Maslamani, I.A., Aboobacker, V.M., Vethamony, P., 2021: Observed Variability in Physical and Biogeochemical Parameters in the Central Arabian Gulf, Oceanologia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceano.2020.12.003
    5. Vasimalla Suneel, Sivaprakasam Sathish Kumar, Ramakrishnan Balaji, P. Vethamony (2021). Formation and weathering assessment of oil-suspended sediment aggregates through a laboratory investigation, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11813-w
    6. Ranjani, M., Veerasingam, S., Venkatachalapathy, Mugilarasan, M., R., Bagaev, A., Mukhanov, Vethamony, P., 2021. Assessment of potential ecological risk of microplastics in coastal sediments of India: a meta-analysis. Marine Pollution Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.111969
    7. Rajendran, S., Al-Khayat, J.A., Veerasingam, S., Nasir, S., Vethamony, P., Sadooni, F.N., Al-Kuwari, H.A.S., 2021. WorldView-3 mapping of tar deposits of the Ras Rakan Island, Northern coast of Qatar: Environmental Perspective. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 163 (2021) 111988.
    8. Veerasingam, S., Vethamony, P., Aboobacker, V.M., Giraldes, A.E., Dib, S., Al-Khayat, J.A., 2021. Factors influencing the vertical distribution of microplastics in the beach sediments around the Ras Rakan Island, Qatar. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12100-4
    9. Marieh Arekhi, Leigh G. Terry, Gerald F. John, Jassim A. Al-Khayat, Azenith B. Castillo, P. Vethamony, T. Prabhakar Clement (2020). Field and Laboratory Investigation of Tarmat Deposits found on Ras Rakan Island and Northern Beaches of Qatar. Science of the Total Environment, 735 (2020) 139516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139516 (IF: 6.551).
    10. Veerasingam, S., Al-Khayat, J.A., Haseeba, K.P., Aboobacker, V.M., Hamza, S., Vethamony, P., 2020. Spatial distribution, structural characterization and weathering of tarmats along the west coast of Qatar. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 159, 111486.
    11. Veerasingam, S., Al-Khayat, J.A., Aboobacker, V.M., Hamza, S., Vethamony, P., 2020. Sources, spatial distribution and characteristics of marine litter along the west coast of Qatar. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 159, 111478.
    12. Veerasingam, S., Ranjani, M., Venkatachalapathy, R., Bagaev, A., Mukhanov, V., Litvinyuk, D., Mugilarasan, M., Gurumoorthi, K., Guganathan, L., Aboobacker, V.M., Vethamony, P., 2020. Contributions of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology doi:10.1080/10643389.2020.1807450
    13. Veerasingam, S., Ranjani, M., Venkatachalapathy, R., Bagaev, A., Mukhanov, V., Litvinyuk, D., Verzhevskaya, L., Guganathan, L., Vethamony, P., 2020. Microplastics in different environmental compartments in India: Analytical methods, distribution, associated contaminants and research needs. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 133, 116071.
    14. Aboobacker, V.M., Shanas, P.R., Ibrahim M.A.S. Al-Ansari, Sanil Kumar V., Vethamony, P., 2020: The maxima in northerly wind speeds and wave heights over the Arabian Sea, the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the Red Sea derived from 40 years of ERA5 data, Climate Dynamics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05518-6
    15. Shamji, V.R., Aboobacker, V.M., Vineesh, T.C., 2020: Extreme value analysis of wave climate around Farasan Islands, southern Red sea, Ocean Engineering, 207: 107395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2020.107395
    16. Yigiterhan, O., Al-Ansari, E.M., Nelson, A., Abdel-Moati, M. A., Turner, J., Alsaadi, H. A., paul, B., Al-Maslamani, I. A., Al-Ansi Al-Yafei, M. A., Murray, J. W. (2020). Trace element composition of size-fractionated suspended particulate matter samples from the Qatari Exclusive Economic Zone of the Arabian Gulf: the role of atmospheric dust. Biogeosciences. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-381-2020
    17. Elsayed, H., Yigiterhan, O., Al-Ansari, E. M. A. S., Al-Ashwel, A. A., Elezz, A. A., Al-Maslamani, I. (2020). Methylmercury bioaccumulation among different food chain levels in the EEZ of Qatar (Arabian Gulf). Regional Studies in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2020.101334
    18. Mohammad A. A. Al-Najjar, Christopher Munday, Artur Fink, Mohamed A.R. Abdel-Moati, Waleed Hamza, Laura Korte, Jan-Berend Stuut, Ibrahim S. Al-Ansari, Ibrahim Al-Maslamani & Dirk de Beer (2020). Nutritive effect of dust on microbial biodiversity and productivity of the Arabian Gulf, Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management.
    19. Suneel V, Mahua Saha, Chayanika Rathore, Jenica Sequeira, P.M. Nikhil Mohan, Durbar Ray, S. Veerasingam, V. Trinadha Rao, P. Vethamony (2019). Assessing the source of oil deposited in the surface sediment of Mormugao Port, Goa - A case study of MV Qing incident, Mar. Poll. Bull., 145, 88-95.
    20. Suneel, V, Trinadha Rao, V, Gopika Suresh, Aditya Chaudhary, R., P.Vethamony, Ratheesh, P.(2019). Oil pollution in the Eastern Arabian Sea from invisible sources: a multi-technique approach, Mar. Poll. Bull., 146, 683-695.
    21. Samiksha S. V., P. Vethamony, P. K. Bhaskaran, P. Pednekar, M. Jishad and A. James (2019). Attenuation of wave energy due to mangrove vegetation off Mumbai, India, Energies 2019, 12, 4286; https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/22/4286.
    22. Renjith VishnuRadhan, Eldho T I, P Vethamony, Saheed P P, Shirodkar P V (2018). Assessment of the environmental health of an ecologically sensitive, semi-enclosed, basin - A water quality modelling approach, Marine Pollution Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.035
    23. Soliman, Y., Al-Ansari, E.M.A.S., Sericano, J. L., Wade, T. L. (2019). Spatio-temporal distribution and sources identifications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their alkyl homolog in surface sediments in the central Arabian Gulf. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.093
    24. Yigiterhan, O., Alfoldy, B. Z., Giamberini, M., Turner, J. C., Al-Ansari, I. S., Abdel-Moatii, M. A., Al-Maslamani, I. A., Mahfouz, M. M. K., Elobaid, E. A., Hassan, H. A., Obbard, J. P., Murray, J. W. (2017). Geochemical Composition of Aeolian Dust and Surface Deposits from the Qatar Peninsula. Chemical Geology. doi:10.1016/ j.chemgeo.2017.10.030
    25. Al-Ansari, E. M. A. S., Abdel-Moati, M. A. R., Yigiterhan, O., Al-Maslamani, Soliman, Y., Rowe, G. T., Wade, T. L., Al-Shaikh, I. M., Helmi, A., Kuklyte, L., Chatting, M., Al-Ansi Al-Yafei,, M. A. (2017). Mercury accumulation in Lethrinus nebulosus from the marine waters of the Qatar EEZ. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.04.024
    26. Hassan, H. M., Castillo, A. B., Yigiterhan, O., Elobaid, E. A., Al-Obaidly, A., Al-Ansari, E., Obbard, J. P. (2017). Baseline concentrations and distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in surface sediments from the Qatar marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.093
    27. Al-Ansari, E.M.A.S., Rowe, G., Abdel-Moati, M.A.R., Yigiterhan, O., Al-Maslamani, I., Al-yafei, M.A., Al-Shaikh, I., Upstill-Goddard, R. (2015). Hypoxia in the central Arabian Gulf Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Qatar. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.03.022
    28. Soliman, Y.S., Al-Ansari, E.M.S., wade, T. L. (2014). Concentration, composition and sources of PAHs in the coastal sediments of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar, Arabian Gulf. Marine Pollution Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.04.027
    29. Quigg, A., Al-Ansi, M., Nour Al Din, N., Wei, C. Nunnally, C. C., Al-Ansari, I. S., Rowe, G. T., Soliman, Y., Al-Masalamani, I., Mahmoud, I., Youssef, N., Abdel-Moati, M. A. (2013). Phytoplankton along the coastal shelf of an oligotrophic hypersaline environment in a semi-enclosed marginal sea: Qatar (Arabian Gulf). Continental Shelf Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2013.04.015

    Conference proceedings

    1. Haseeba, K.P., Veerasingam, S., Shafeeq, H., Al-Khayat, J., Vethamony, P., 2020. Assessment of tarmat contamination and its chemical characterization along the west coast of Qatar, Arabian Gulf. Qatar University Annual Research Forum & Exhibition (QUARFE), 28 October 2020, Qatar University. DOI:10.29117/quarfe.2020.0075
    2. Veerasingam, S., Al-Khayat, J.A, Vethamony, P., 2020. COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): A Potential source of microplastic pollution in the State of Qatar. Qatar University Annual Research Forum & Exhibition (QUARFE), 28 October 2020, Qatar University. DOI: 10.29117/quarfe.2020.0284
    3. Izumi, C., Al-Thani, J., Yigiterhan, O., Al-Ansari, E.M.A.S., Vethamony, P., Sorino, C. F., Anderson, D., Murray, J. W. (2020). Ocean Acidification and Carbonate Chemistry in the Central Arabian Gulf. Qatar University Annual Research Forum 2020. https://doi.org/10.29117/quarfe.2020.0319
    4. Aboobacker, V.M., Ebrahim M.A.S. Al-Ansari, Shanas, P.R., Veerasingam, S., Vethamony, P., 2020: Wind energy potentials along the onshore and offshore Qatar, Proceedings of the Qatar University Annual Research Forum and Exhibition (QUARFE), 28 October 2020, Qatar University. https://doi.org/10.29117/quarfe.2020.0018