Characterization of a Malaysian mangrove estuary

Article

Estuaries

March 1991, Volume 14, Issue 1, pp 38-48

First online: 

Title 

Characterization of a Malaysian mangrove estuary

• Author 

• J. E. Ong
• , W. K. Gong
• , C. H. Wong
• , Zubir Hj. Din
• , B. Kjerfve

Abstract

The Sungai Merbok estuary, in wet tropical Peninsular Malaysia, borders the Straits of Malacca. Tide, current, and salinity data are used to describe the salient hydrographic features of the mangrove-fringed system. The Sungai Merbok estuary is characterized by a 1.7 m semidiurnal tide with a 0.16 form number, peak currents of 1.3 m s−1, and mean freshwater discharge of 20 m3 s−1. The system is classified as 2a/2b estuary (Hansen and Rattray 1966) or 1a/1b during periods of low runoff. Gravitational circulation is highly variable (but coincides with the neap stratification) and vertical stratification varies from 10−2 to 1. The estuary displays a pronounced fortnightly neap-spring stratification-destratification cycle. The effective longitudinal dispersion coefficient is approximately 100 m2s−1.

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