The study of physical characteristic of temperature and salinity of Bidong Island water and the current circulation

Abstract

This study was conducted at Bidong Island, Kuala Terengganu on March and July 2010. Physical parameter of Bidong Island water was studied by analyzing the temperature, salinity distribution and also current pattern of that Island .. The in situ data was collected by using Hydro lab Data Sonde and V aleport current meter I 06. Data was taken and analyzed using the MATLAB software version 2008 and Microsoft excel. The temperature value of the seawater during March was 29.0 °C to 30.0 °C and the salinity were 32.3 ppt to 32.9 ppt. For temperature value on July were between 30.0 °C to 30.5 °C while the salinity value were between 32.8 ppt to 32.9 ppt. Strong current was recorded on July with the range speed of 0.04 mis to 0.4 mis and current speed on March were between 0.04 mis to 0.3 mis. The current circulation on Bidong Island showed mostly towards sothward. There are difference pattern of the water column condition occurred on March and July 2010 which the temperature and salinity profile March showed well mixed profile and stratification profile was obtained on July. High surface heating and low wind stress developed the stratification water column on March. While on July strong wind and low surface heating result on the mixing layer of the water column condition.