44. Where is the hottest ocean or portion of an ocean? 



The hottest ocean area is in the Persian Gulf, where water tennpera- 

 tures at the surface exceed 90° F in the summer months. Near shore 

 in shallow water, temperatures as high as 96.8° F have been reported. 



A unique hot, salty area has recently been discovered in the Red Sea, 

 where scientists of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution recorded 

 a temperature of 132.8° F at a depth of 2,000 meters. In this area, the 

 expected temperature at that depth is about 68° F. The reason for 



these extreme temperatures is unknown, but much scientific research is 

 being directed to continue observations in the area and to investigate 

 theories on the origin of the heat source. 



In the open ocean, maximum temperatures occur north of the Equa- 

 tor. The zone of maximum water temperature shifts with the season, 

 but only in a few areas does it extend south of the Equator. Tempera- 

 tures in the Southern Hemisphere are considerably lower than those in 

 the Northern Hemisphere. 



Dubach, Harold W. 



A Summary of Temperature-Salinity Characteristics in the Persian 



Gulf, Publication G-4, National Oceanographic Data Center, 1964. 

 King, Cuchlaine A. M. 



Oceanography for Geographers, Edward Arnold Ltd. (London), 1962. 

 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 



Research in the Sea, 1967. 



49 



