A climatology of the sea breeze circulation over the southern Arabian Gulf

Surface and upper-air observations from 1995-2002 and 2004 were studied to determine the frequency, horizontal extent, and depth of the sea breeze and land breeze circulations over the southern Arabian Gulf. Sea breezes occur nearly every day during the summer and on more than 75% days annually. Land breezes occur on more than 70% of days annually. Wind observations from a network of 50 meteorological stations in the United Arab Emirates show the sea breeze to extend horizontally 150 km offshore to 100 km onshore. Climatological analysis of the sea breeze on the southern Arabian Gulf region will be presented and contrasted with similar circulations over the southeast coastal region of India where substantial moisture is present during the southwest monsoon.