Circulation and Salinity Distribution in the Southern Part of the Suez Canal

Results of 14 hydrographic sections along the southern part of the Suez Canal between Suez Bay and Great Bitter Lake from April 1964 to April 1965 are generally in agreement with previous sections taken 10 years before (1954-1955). A northward current prevailed from November to July and a southward current dominated from 15 August to 15 October, publishing the saline water mass (44%.) to Suez Bay. Two sections on successive days during September 1964 showed differences explained by the sampling time in relation to the tides. In certain stations low salinity occurred after high water and high salinity after low water, mainly due to reversible tidal currents: The northward current at high water carries low salinity water from Suez Bay. Saline water from the Bitter Lakes moves southward during the ebb and attains its maximum at low water. No increase in salinity was observed in Suez Bay during summer 1966, contrary to all preceding observations in 1924, 1934, 1954, and 1964. Two sections taken in the southern canal in September 1966 did not indicate the usual reversal of currents toward the south. This confirms a previous observation that a change in the current regime in the Suez Canal took place in 1966, just after completion of the Aswan High Dam.