Patterns of seasonal variability in granulometric characteristics of Bhitarkanika Mangrove – estuarine complex, East coast of India

Abstract

Textural attributes of recent sediments measured in terms o<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:MSTT31c6f0">f mean (Mz), Standard deviation (σ₁), Skewness (Sk₁) and Kurtosis (K_G) are widely used to reconstruct the depositional environments of sediments. Sediments were collected in three seasons from different areas of Bhitarkanika mangrove estuary to investigate the spatial and seasonal variability and influence of sediment transport on grain size characteristics. A marked variation in granulometric parameters was observed with respect to its geomorphic location in different seasons. Most of sediments were dominated by fine to very fine grain size, which are poorly sorted throughout the year. These poorly sorted, positively skewed fine grained sand indicate depositional process in a low energy environment. Linear discriminant function (LDF) showed aeolian process for mixed up sediment causing poor sorting of the sediments during all seasons.

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