A study of the physical parameters at Kerteh coastal area

Abstract

This study was conducted along the coast of Kerteh, Terengganu. The objectives of this study are to determine the physical-chemical water parameters which are temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) of the seawaters during Southwest Monsoon and Northeast Monsoon at Kerteh, Terengganu and to determine the different between within Southwest Monsoon and Northeast Monsoon. The study was conducted in two months which were June 2011 and February 2012. The data collected during high tide and low tide session based on the tides table. The data were taken at 13 stations. The data were analyzed by using the MATLAB software version 2008. The result showed that the level of temperature, salinity, pH and DO of water was affected mainly by the input of freshwater from Kerteh River and inflow of saltwater from the sea. The saltwater intrusion into the estuary was prevented by the sufficient movement of the river runoff causing the freshwater and saltwater to mixed and formed a vertical mixing. The result also showed that water temperature and salinity during the high tide of SW monsoon is warmer than the low tide and high tide of NE monsoon. This was proved that Kerteh influenced by the monsoon climate.