Fluxes of Dissolved Nutrients and Total Suspended Solids from the Bang Pakong River Mouth into the Upper Gulf of Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Coastal eutrophication is a global environmental concern, primarily driven by nutrient contamination from human and natural sources entering the sea via river mouths. The Bang Pakong River, situated on the eastern coast of Thailand's Upper Gulf, exemplifies this issue. Its watershed, largely dedicated to agriculture, has witnessed rapid urban and industrial growth, contributing to water eutrophication in the Upper Gulf. To address this, a study conducted in 2016 and 2017 analyzed the exchange of dissolved nutrients and total suspended solids at the Bang Pakong River mouth across different seasons. During the rainy season, the concentration of nutrients and suspended solids was high. Hypoxia in near-bottom water occurred. The net flux of these materials depended on seasonal variations in runoff, with higher amounts (71.2×106 m3·d-1) being washed into the sea during high runoff periods. In contrast, during the dry season in February, material accumulated in the river due to seawater intrusion, with net water flux (11.6×106 m3·d-1) reversing. Significantly, the study found a strong correlation between the net flux of studied materials and average monthly rainfall in the Bang Pakong Basin. This correlation can be valuable in predicting substance transport from the river to the Upper Gulf, aiding in the assessment of nutrient enrichment in the region. Addressing eutrophication is critical for preserving the ecological balance of coastal ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of these vital environments.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
American Public Health Association (APHA). 1992. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater including Sediments and Sludges. American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation, Washington, D.C., USA. 1220 pp.
Bubphamala, T., L. Benjawan and W. Liamlaem. 2010. Seasonal variations of water quality in Bangpakong River and nearby canals at Banpho District. Kasetsart Journal (Natural Science) 44(4): 732–743.
Dyer, K.R. 1973. Estuaries: A Physical Introduction. Wiley-Interscience, London, England. 140 pp.
Grasshoff, K., K. Kremling and M. Ehrhardt. 1999. Methods of Seawater Analysis. Wiley‐VCH, Weinheim, Germany. 600 pp.
Hungspreugs, M. 1986. Chemical Oceanography. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. 274 pp.
Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute (HAII). 2018. The 25 River Basin in Thailand. https://www.senate.go.th. Cited 9 Oct 2022.
Junchompoo, C., C. Meksumpun and S. Meksumpun. 2006. Application of nutrient quantities and ratios for assessment of aquatic resources status of Bangpakong River, Ban Pho District, Chachoengsao Province. Proceedings of the 44th Kasetsart University Annual Conference: Fisheries 2006: 205–213.
Kjerfve, B. and Jr. H.N. Mckellar. 1980. Time series measurements of estuarine material fluxes. Estuarine Perspectives 197: 341–357.
Liljeström, I., M. Kummu and O. Varis. 2012. Nutrient balance assessment in the Mekong Basin: Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in a catchment scale. Water Resources Development 28(2): 373–391.
Luu, T.N.M., J. Garnier, G. Billen, T.P.Q. Le, J. Némery, D. Orange and L.A. Le. 2012. N, P, Si budgets for the Red River Delta (Northern Vietnam). Biogeochemistry 107: 241–259.
Land Development Department (LDD). 2016. A study of the slope of the land development area in Trat Province. https://www.ldd.go.th/home. Cited 10 Jan 2023.
Mackenzie, F.T., R.M. Garrels, O.P. Bricker and F. Bickley. 1967. Silica in sea water: Control by silica minerals. Science 155: 1404–1405.
Manaka, T., S. Otani, A. Inamura, A. Suzuki, T. Aung, R. Roachanakanan, T. Ishiwa and H. Kawahata. 2015. Chemical weathering and long-term CO2 consumption in the Ayeyarwady and Mekong river basins in the Himalayas. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 120(6): 1165–1175.
Meesub, B., A. Buranapratheprat, P. Thaipichitburapa, S. Kan-atireklarp and S. Kan-atireklarp. 2021. Fluxes of dissolved inorganic nutrients and suspended sediment at the Trat River Mouth, Trat Province in 2018. Burapha Science Journal 26(1): 526–544.
Munhapon, A., S. Tong-U-dom and A. Buranapratheprat. 2022. Investigation of the seasonal variation of passive tracer released from river mouths in the Inner Gulf of Thailand by using a hydrodynamic model. Burapha Science Journal 27(2): 1334–1356.
Pollution Control Department (PCD). 2017. Marine pollution. http://www.pcd.go.th/info_serv/
water_marine.html. Cited 15 Jul 2018.
Redfield, A. 1958. The biological control of chemical factors in the environment. American Scientist 46: 205–221.
RD Instruments Acoustic Doppler Solutions. 2001. WinRiver User’s Guide International Version. https://www.comm-tec.com/Prods/mfgs/RDI/Software/Manuals/WinRiver-Manual/WinRiver User Guide International Version.pdf. Cited 10 Nov 2022.
Senpradit, P., N. Thawonsode, C. Ruengsorn, M. Marboon, S. Meksumpun, O. Veschasit, T. Komorita, C. Meksumpun and K. Tada. 2022. Comparison of organic matter distribution patterns in the Gulf of Thailand over the past two decades. Journal of Fisheries and Environment 46(3): 84–97.
Strickland, J.D.H. and T.R. Parsons. 1972. A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analysis. Fishery Research Board of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. 310 pp.
Siripong, A. 1981. Physical Oceanography of Estuary. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. 441 pp.
The Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University (BIMS). 2006. Marine Environmental Monitoring Program and Protection Management of Red Tide in the Coastal Waters of Chon Buri Province. The Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chon Buri, Thailand. 198 pp.
Thaipichitburapa, P., C. Meksumpun and S. Meksumpun. 2010. Province-based self-remediation efficiency of the Tha Chin river basin, Thailand. Water Science and Technology 62(3): 594–602.
Wilke, R.J. and R. Dayal. 1982. The behaviour of iron, manganese and silicon in the Peconic River Estuary, New York. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 15: 577–586.
Yuenyong, S., N. Nimsuwan, A. Buranapratheprat, V. Gunbua, P. Jintasaeranee, P. Thaipichitburapa and J. Suriyaphan. 2019. Water quality of the Bangpakong River during 2016–2018. Burapha Science Journal 24(1): 138–155.