Seasonal variability of physico-chemical characteristics of the haldia channel of Hooghly estuary, India

• Published in: Journal of Earth System Science Vol. 114; no. 1; pp. 37 - 49
• Main Authors: SADHURAM, Y, SARMA, V. V, RAMANA MURTHY, T. V, PRABHAKARA RAO, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangalore Indian Academy of Sciences 01-02-2005; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemical oxygen demand; Brackish; Brackishwater environment; Chemicals; Current observations; Diffusion coefficient; Dissolved oxygen; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Eddy diffusion; Eddy diffusivity; Estuaries; Estuarine dynamics; Estuarine environments; Exact sciences and technology; Floods; Fresh water; Freshwater; Inland water environment; Monsoons; Nutrients; Oxygen; Oxygen demand; Oxygen requirement; Salinity; Salinity effects; Seasonal variability; Seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Summer; Suspended matter; Threshold limits; Tidal waves; Total oxygen demand; Turbulent diffusion; Vertical eddy diffusion; Vortices; Water temperature; Wind; Winter; India; ISW, India, Hooghly estuary; ISW, India, Haldia; ISW, India, West Bengal, Hooghly Estuary; ISW, India; Haldia channel; floods; models; salinity; diffusion; estuarine environment; chemical characteristics; tides; nutrients; transportation; dispersion coefficient; currents; channels; Asia; Physical characteristics; Hooghly estuary; pH; temperature; estuaries; dispersion; fresh water; monsoons; oxygen; seasonal variations
• ISSN: 0253-4126; 0973-774X
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02702007

Physical and chemical characteristics of the Hooghly estuary during winter (December 1997-January 1998), summer (May 1998) and post-monsoon (November 1998) seasons have been studied. Salinity varied spatially and temporally and seasonally during ebb and flood tide conditions. Water temperature showed a difference of 10[double dagger]C in winter to summer. Temperature did not vary much vertically as it is a well-mixed estuary. Strong currents exceeding 100 cm S^sup -1^ were observed during peak ebb and flood tide conditions irrespective of the season. Longitudinal eddy diffusion coefficient (K ^sub x^) was estimated as 757m S^sup -1^ and 811m^sup 2^ S^sup -1^ during summer and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. The vertical eddy diffusion coefficient ([straight epsilon]^sub v^) was estimated as 0.0337 m^sup 2^ S^sup -1^ during post-monsoon season. The salinity and current observations are compared with those obtained from models reported earlier. Values of pH, Dissolved Oxygen and Biological Oxygen Demand are within the threshold limits of the estuarine environment. Nutrients show seasonal variation in the estuarine environment. High values (160-2686 mg l^sup -1^) of total suspended matter were noticed both at surface and bottom in the study region showing the impact of fresh water and sediment transportation.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]