Bijoy, Nandan S; Sreedevi, O K; Jayachandran, P R(NATL INST SCIENCE COMMUNICATION-NISCAIR, April , 2012)
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Abstract:
Present study focussed on the water quality status in relation to various anthropogenic activities in the Kodungallur-
Azhikode Estuary (KAE). Average depth of the estuary was 3.6 ± 0.2 m with maximum of 4.3 ± 0.4 m in the estuarine
mouth. Dissolved oxygen showed an average of 5.1±1 mg/l in the water column, whereas the highest BOD value was
noticed during monsoon period (3.1 ± 0.8 mg/l) which could be due to high organic enrichment in the water column. pH
displayed slightly alkaline condition in most of the stations and it varied from 7.2 ± 0.5 in Station 7 to 7.5 ± 0.5 in Station 1.
Salinity in the estuary displayed mixo-mesohaline nature with clear vertical stratification. High river discharge could have
resulted in nutrients and silt loading into the estuary, which makes a highly turbid water column particularly during the
monsoon period, which limits light penetration and subsequent primary productivity. Turbidity in the water column showed
an average of 20.2 ± 15.8 NTU. Estuary was nitrogen limited during post and pre monsoon periods. Nitrate-nitrogen content
in the estuarine water gave negative correlation with ammonia.
Description:
Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences
Vol. 41 (2), April 2012, pp. 180-187