Determination of tidal influences towards stratification of Kerteh River estuary

Abstract

This study was conducted at Kerteh River, Kerteh, Terengganu. The objectives of this study are to study the tidal influences on the estuary hydrodynamics and to study the tidal influences towards salinity changes at Kerteh River Estuary. The study was conducted in two months which were April and October 2010. Physical parameter in­ situ data was taken by using Multiprobe Sensor Hydrolab Datasonde and Multiprobe Sensor Hydrolab Quanta. To get a record of 24 hour data, Multiprobe Sensor Hydrolab Datasonde was deployed at Station 9. The Physical parameter data recorded were the temperature and salinity. Meanwhile, Multiprobe Sensor Hydrolab Quanta was used to record manually the temperature and salinity of Kerteh River. By using this equipment, the data were collected during high tide and low tide session based on the tides table. The data were taken at nine stations. The data were analysed by using the MATLAB software version 2008. The results of this study showed that tides gave high influences towards the salinity patterns of Kerteh River estuary for both months. For the first sampling (April), there was insufficient movement of river runoff towards the sea which caused the saltwater to move faster into the estuary and produced a wedged column of water at the bottom of the river.