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Tidal influence on suspended sediment distribution and dispersal in the northern Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban

DRS at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography

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Title Tidal influence on suspended sediment distribution and dispersal in the northern Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban
 
Creator Ramaswamy, V.
Rao, P.S.
Rao, K.H.
Thwin, S.
Rao, N.S.
Raiker, V.
 
Subject suspended particulate matter
resuspended sediments
water column
satellite sensing
tidal cycles
continental shelves
 
Description Surface and water column profiles of suspended matter collected during April-May 2002, and satellite images were used to study factors influencing suspended sediment concentrations (SSCs) and dispersal in the northern Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban, one of the largest highly turbid areas of the world's oceans. Perennial high SSC in the Gulf of Martaban is due to a combination of factors including resuspension of sediments by strong tidal currents, shallow bathymetry and seasonal sediment influx from rivers. From satellite images, it was observed that in the central portion of the Gulf of Martaban, the turbidity front oscillates about 150 km in phase with spring-neap tidal cycles and the area covered by the turbid zone (SSC greater than 15 mg l sub(-1)) increases from less than 15000 km sup(2) during neap tide to more than 45000 km2 during spring tide. The sediment discharged by the Ayeyarwady River is transported mainly eastward, along the coast, into the Gulf of Martaban. Occasionally, during the winter monsoon period, sediment plumes are seen heading westward into the Bay of Bengal. Turbidity profiles show that bottom nepheloid layers are actively transporting some of the sediments into the deep Andaman Sea via the Martaban canyon.
 
Date 2008-07-02T05:06:18Z
2008-07-02T05:06:18Z
2004
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Marine Geology, Vol.208; 33-42p.
http://drs.nio.org/drs/handle/2264/1154
 
Language en
 
Rights Copyright [2004]. It is tried to respect the rights of the copyright holders to the best of the knowledge. If it is brought to our notice that the rights are violated then the item would be withdrawn.
 
Publisher Elsevier