Evaluation of geochemical impact of tsunami on Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem, southeast coast of India
Ranjan, R.; Ramanathan, A.; Singh, G. (2008). Evaluation of geochemical impact of tsunami on Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem, southeast coast of India. Environ. Geol. 55(3): 687-697. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1019-9 In: Environmental Geology. Springer: Heidelberg; Berlin. ISSN 0943-0105; e-ISSN 1432-0495, more | |
Author keywords | Pichavaram; mangroves; tsunami; nutrients; sediment; geochemical changes |
Authors | | Top | - Ranjan, R.
- Ramanathan, A.
- Singh, G., more
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Abstract | The 26 December 2004-tsunami has deposited sediments in the Pichavaram mangrove ecosystem, east coast of India. Ten surface and three core sediment samples were collected within 30 days of the event and analyzed for nutrients. Water samples were also analyzed to see the impact of tsunami on the geochemical behavior of nutrients. An increase in the concentration of various nutrients namely nitrate and phosphate was observed. The geochemistry of the mangrove forest was observed to be influenced by a number of factors like rapid increase of aquaculture farms, agricultural practices and the anthropogenic discharge from the nearby-inhabited areas. Further the sediment column was disturbed due to energetic tsunami waves, which has caused a sheer increase in the dissolved oxygen in water. As a result, the change in the redox potential has resulted in change in the nutrients absorbed/associated with the sediments. In addition, role of retreating water after tsunami on the nutrient geochemistry was also evaluated. |
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