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The Nature and Distribution of Particulate Matter in the Mandovi Estuary, Central West Coast of India

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Abstract

Systematic seasonal variations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) along a 44-km transect of the Mandovi estuary reveal that the concentrations of SPM are low at river-end stations, increase generally seaward, and are highest at sea-end stations of the estuary. An estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) occurs at sea-end stations during June–September when river discharge is high and also in February–May when river discharge is low. These are the two windiest times of year, the former associated with the southwest monsoon and the latter characterized by a persistent sea breeze. The salinity vs. SPM plot shows that high SPM is a seaward deposit and skewed landward. Suspended matter comprised of floccules, fecal pellets, and aggregates that consist of clay and biogenic particles occur everywhere in the estuary. Diatoms are the most common and are of marine type at the sea-end and freshwater-dominated at river-end stations of the estuary. SPM is characterized by kaolinite- and smectite-rich clay mineral suites at the river- and sea-end stations, respectively. Smectite concentrations increase seawards with the increase in SPM content and are not influenced by salinity. Wind-driven waves and currents and biogeochemical processes at the mouth of estuary likely play an important role in the formation of ETM in resuspension and transformation of SPM into floccules and aggregates and in their upkeep or removal.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. S. R. Shetye, the Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, for his keen interest on the “Mandovi Monsoon Experiment,” discussions, and making us available the manuscript in communication. Dr. Dileepkumar provided funds for Project Assistant from the Project “SIP 1308.” Dr. Smita Mitbhavkar identified diatoms and helped us in discussions. Shri D. Sundar and G.S. Michael organized boat cruises fortnightly and provided salinity data. Mr. Girish Prabhu helped us with X-ray diffraction analyses. We thank Prof. Carl Friedrichs, VIMS, USA for the critical and constructive review and two anonymous reviewers for offering several comments on our earlier manuscript. We thank Prof. James Cloern, Editor, Estuaries and Coasts for patience and valuable comments on our paper. This is NIO contribution 4623.

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  1. National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR), Dona Paula, 403 004, Goa, India

    Pratima Mohan Kessarkar, Venigalla Purnachandra Rao, Ranjan Shynu, Prakash Mehra & Blossom E. Viegas

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  1. Pratima Mohan Kessarkar
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  2. Venigalla Purnachandra Rao
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Correspondence to Venigalla Purnachandra Rao.

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Concise and informative title: distribution of particulate matter in the Mandovi estuary

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Kessarkar, P.M., Purnachandra Rao, V., Shynu, R. et al. The Nature and Distribution of Particulate Matter in the Mandovi Estuary, Central West Coast of India. Estuaries and Coasts 33, 30–44 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-009-9226-0

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