Seasonal Variations in Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Kanyakumari Coastal Waters, South West Coast of India

Abstract

Physico-chemical parameters of coastal waters were determined along the Kanayakumari coast, in the southwest coast of India. All the physico chemical parameters such as atmospheric temperature, surface water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen content and nutrient like nitrate, silicate, phosphate were studied for a period from July 2018 to May 2019. Atmospheric and surface water temperature varied from 24.7-33.7°C and 23.5-33.9°C. Hydrogen ion concentration ranged between 7.61 to 8.61. It was alkaline throughout the study period. Salinity varied from 29.7ppt to 38.1ppt. Variation in dissolved oxygen content was from 3.67-5.63 mg/L. Concentrations of nutrients viz. nitrate (10.4 – 55.01 mg/L), silicate (8.9- 13.7 µg/L), phosphate (0.05- 1.04 mg/L) and also varied independently.