This study was conducted at 21 different locations in the Batticaloa lagoon of Sri Lanka to determine the variations of salinity, EC, water temperature, and pH at different depths of the lagoon during the month of May 2013 (early dry period). The locations were grouped into four, based on the distance from bar mouth and geographic locations. Vertical profiles of salinity were tested using Salinity Refractometer. Temperature, pH, and Electrical Conductivity (EC) were measured using a portable pH/EC/TDS meter. Results were statistically analyzed using the Minitab 14 software. Results revealed that pH varied from 7.87 to 8.89 and 7.98 and 8.79 at the surface and bottom layer of the lagoon, respectively. The result of pH indicated slightly alkaline in nature. Further, observations indicate that the surface layer of lagoon water had a higher temperature (mean 32 oC) than the bottom layer (mean 31oC) of the lagoon. Furthermore, a positive correlation (r=0.146, p=0.168) was found between lagoon depth and salinity.
Reference
R. S. K. Barnes, Eds., “The Coastline,” Chichester, UK: Wiley, 1977, pp. 356.
E. Furusato, G. P. Amarasekara, T. Priyadarshana, and Tanaka. N, “The current status of density stratification of Koggala Lagoon,” ACEPS, pp. 176-183, 2012.
G. L, Perera, , Eiichi Furusato, Amarasekara, G.P Priyadarshana T. and Tanaka N, “Current status of salinity stratification of Rekawa Lagoon, Sri Lanka,” Special session on Sustainable Earth, SLJC, 2013.
B. Knoppers, B. Kjerfve, and J. Carmouze, “Trophic state and water turn-over time in six choked coastal lagoons in Brazil,” Biogeochemistry, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 149-166, 1991. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00002903
S. Santharuban and M. Manobawan, “Evaluating the impacts of an improperly designed bridge across the Batticaloa Lagoon,” in Symp. Water Resources Research in Sri Lanka, October, 2005.
Green Tech Consultants, ” An assessment of the change in shoreline location along the coast of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, using remote sensing technology,” North East Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP), Revised Final Rep., 2009, vol. 49.
IUCN Sri Lanka and the Central Environmental Authority, “National wetland directory of Sri Lanka,” Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2006.
D. A. Scott, “A directory of Asian wetlands,” IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, 1989.
M. G. Consultants, “A Bathymetric Survey of Batticaloa Lagoon, Final Report, Annex 2, June 2010, NEC/PO/TECS(II)/08/12, NECCDEP/ MG Consultants, ADB Loan 2027 (SF): North East Coastal Community Development Project (NECDEP): 27, 2010.
J. Rani, A. Kannagi, and V. Shanthi, “Correlation of total heterotrophic bacterial load in relation with hydrographical features of Pazhayakayal estuary, Tuticorin, India,” J. Environ. Biol., vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 769-773, 2012. PMid:23360006
Y. S. Wang., Z. P. Lou, C. C. Sun, M. L. Wu, and S. H. Han, “Multivariate statistical analysis of water quality and phytoplankton characteristics in Daya Bay, China, from 1999 to 2002,” Oceanologia, vol. 48, pp. 193-211, 2006.
Matthew Hall and Catherine Wazniak, “Continuous water quality monitoring in the Maryland Coastal Bays,” Annual Report, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 6, 2004.
A. Newton, and S. M. Mudge, “Temperature and salinity regimes in a shallow, mesotidal lagoon, the Ria Formosa, Portugal,” Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sci., vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 73-85, 2003. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7714(02)00332-3
To Cite this article
S. Muthucumaran., S. Pathmarajah., M. I. M. Mowjood. 2015 “Vertical variation of salinity, electrical conductivity, temperature and PH of batticaloa lagoon,” International Journal of Applied and Physical Sciences, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 36-41. 2015.