Salt-tectonics plays major role in contributing high seawater salinity in Arabian/Persian Gulf: A constant constrain on seawater desalination

Literature research indicates that Arabian/Persian Gulf is the second smallest and saltiest marine body in the world. In general, it is believed that anomalously high salinity of the Gulf is due to low precipitation, high rate of evaporation and limited freshwater pouring from rivers of Iraq and Iran. But present research study has identified that the geotectonic setup and the associated resulting active salt-tectonic processes are mainly causing constant enhancement of salinity in Arabian/Persian Gulf. The results indicate presence of numerous penetrations of salt domes, plugs and other diapiric structures almost all over the bottom and surrounding coastline areas, particularly coastal-belt of Iran, Strait of Hormuz and coastal areas of Qatar and UAE, which are the main inherent contributors for high salinity in seawater of the Gulf.Other factors, like, low precipitation, high evaporation, poor freshwater pouring of Iraq and Iran rivers and discharging back of highly concentrated brines, etc., are further augmenting Gulf's high-salinity. From the assessed salinity environment, it is inferred that present level of salinity will be 'higher to highest' in future affecting considerably the desalination activities in time to come. As the level of seawater salinity plays an important role for the efficient and cost effective seawater desalination activities, the present priorities should be reevaluated for efficient and sustainable water from desalination of highly salted-water ofArabian/Persian Gulf.