Hydrodynamic responses on mangrove sediments of Kannur region, southwest coast of India

Abstract

The surface and core sediments of Kannur mangroves have been examined for grain size characteristics and statistical parameters. The content of sand and mud remains almost constant in landward, intermediate and shallow water profiles. The core KC₂, collected from the southern part of the study area shows the highest average of sand (68%). The mean size varies between 1.83 ɸ and 5.56 ɸ in surface sediments and between 2.3 ɸ, and 5.6 ɸ in core sediments. The sediments are generally poorly to very poorly sorted, coarse to very fine skewed and lepto to very platy kurtic in nature. These textural indices and the observed scattering of CM-plots reflect a complex hydrodynamic regime prevailing in different parts of the Kannur mangroves.