Studies on the sediment transport in Mopla Bay Harbour Cannanore, using fluorescent tracers

Abstract

Mopla Bay, near Cannanore on the kerala Coast, is a small bay (about 1.2 km at its widest with a maximum water depth of 5 meters) under development as fishing harbour by the Indo-Norwegian Project. Construction of a breakwater has adversely affected the harbour by bringing about extensive shoaling due to sand accumulation and necessitated modifications in the design and orientation of the breakwater. These modifications could only be undertaken subject to the findings of the sediment dispersal pattern in hte bay, which was achieves by using dyed sand as a tracer. Approximately 100kg, each of dyed sand of red, yellow and a mixture of red and yellow were dumped at three preselected points. Results of sampling after a month indicate a net movement from all the dumpling points into the harbour. The implications of the results are discussed in relation to the breakwater modification and the sand trap location.