Flow and suspended sediment characteristics of the entrance channel of Coondapur Port

Abstract

Studies carried out on flow and suspended sediment characteristics of the entrance channel region of Coondapur Port, Karnataka, India for a period of one year revealed that the currents in the Gangolli Estuarine Mouth during the south-west monsoon were influenced more by river discharge and during the remaining period of the year, the currents in the mouth were controlled by tides. Currents in the sea at 12 m depth off the estuarine mouth generally followed the pattern of coastal currents prevailing along the West Coast of India. The surface currents were generally directed towards north in the north-east monsoon period and towards south in the month of September (south-west monsoon). The surface current direction was towards north in March and towards south in April and May in the sea. Suspended sediment load near bottom was maximum in September and relatively high in the estuarine mouth. Suspended sediment load together with the currents appear to contribute to the siltation in the entrance channel of Coondapur Port during the south-west monsoon season