title: Status of trace metals in surface seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The Gulf of Aqaba (GoA) is of significant ecological value with unique ecosystems that host one of the most diverse coral communities in the world. However, these marine environments and biodiversity have been threatened by growing human activities. We investigated the levels and distributions of trace metals in surface seawater across the eastern coast of the Saudi GoA. Zn, Cu, Fe, B and Se in addition to total dissolved solids and seawater temperature exhibited decreasing trends northwards. While Mn, Cd, As and Pb showed higher average levels in the northern GoA. Metal input in waters is dependent on the adjacent geologic materials. The spatial variability of metals in water is also related to wave action, prevailing wind direction, and atmospheric dry deposition from adjacent arid lands. Also, water discharged from thermal desalination plants, mineral dust from fertilizer and cement factories are potential contributors of metals to seawater water, particularly, in the northern GoA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan. Electronic address: taaniun@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Taani
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Awni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batayneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazzal
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Habes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghrefat
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Eslam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elawadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, Taibah University, PO Box 30002, Madinah 41477, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Haider
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaman
mesh_terms: D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012623:Seawater / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Coastal water; Gulf of Aqaba; Pollution source; Red Sea; Saudi Arabia; Trace element