SEDIMENT GRAB SAMPLING IN MERBOK ESTUARY, KEDAH


Date: 26th April 2014
Time: 10.30 am to 1.30 pm

On our previous sampling trip a sediment samples were collected from 6 sampling stations along the Merbok river catchment. Sediments were obtained by using sediment grabber (Figure 1) which is handled by two person on a boat. The sediment grabber capable to grabs approximately 1kg of wet sediments. The collected sediments then were stored in a labelled plastic bag container. Samples analysing will be conducted in the laboratory to examine its heavy metal substances.

Fig. 1 Sediment sampling using sediment grabber.

Fig. 2 Dropping and releasing the tool into the bottom of the river.

Fig. 3 The obtained sediments were taken out from the river.

Fig. 4 The sediment then be stored into the labelled plastic bag using spade for further analysis.

NITROGEN LOADING OF MERBOK RIVER, KEDAH

Wan Ruslan Ismail^1,2,  Mohd Nazrul Ibrahim¹, Mohd Kusyairi Mohd Zahir¹, Zullyadini A. Rahaman¹

1 HydroGeomorphology Research Group, Section of Geography, School of Humanities,

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Tel: 604-6532853; Fax: 604-6563707; email: wruslan@usm.my

2 Centre for Global Sustainability Studies

Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Summary 

A study was conducted  from October 2011 to  February 2012  in the catchment of Gurun and Upper Merbok River with the purpose to determine nutrient loading in Merbok river catchment as aconsequences of development activities in that area. Result from our short study period in the Merbok river catchment revealed that the nutrients was in low concentrations at the upper segment but increased in concentration at the lower segment. The output of nitrite at segment 1 during sampling period was 48.8 tonnes with 96.9 %.  The output of nitrite at segment 2 was 289.4 tonnes (83.1%) and output at segment 3 which is represent the total output of  the whole catchment was 4325.6 tonnes. The amount of nitrite load removed from the catchment was 4036.2 tonnes (93.3%). For output of nitrate at segment 1 was 68.6 tonnes (88.9%) and the ouput at segment 2 was 570.7 tonnes (88%). The total output of nitrate was 7496.5 tonnes based on output of segment 3; Merbok. The output of ammonium nitrogen at segment 1 during sampling period was 23.9 tonnes with 99.7 %.  The output of ammonium nitrogen at segment 2 was 108.2 tonnes (77.9%) and output at segment 3 which is represent the total output of  the whole catchment was 2216.5 tonnes. The amount of ammonium nitrogen load removed from the catchment was 2108.3 tonnes (95.1%) (See Figure).

a) Nitrite loading

        

b) Nitrate loading

c) Ammoniacal Nitrogen loading

Figure 1. Nitrite, Nitrate and Ammonium nitrogen loading in the Merbok catchment. The black part is the downstream of Merbok river. Meanwhile, the blue is middle segment part  and the light blue part is the upper segment of Merbok River catchment.

Acknowledgement: Universiti Sains Malaysia for RU grant entitle "Land use and land cover changes in the Gurun and Upper Merbok River and the possible effect on euthrophication of Merbok Estuary, Kedah"  No: 1001/PHUMANITI/816229. 

Penerbitan baru dari Ahli HGRG untuk 2014

KERJA LAPANGAN: TEKNIK, PROSEDUR DAN APLIKASI DALAM GEOGRAFI
oleh Wan Ruslan Ismail, Narimah Samat dan Nooriah Yusof

Buku ini membincangkan tentang kaedah dalam menjalankan beberapa kajian lapangan geografi fizikal, teknik dan geografi manusia.

PERSAMPELAN DI SUNGAI MERBOK

Aktiviti persampelan kali ini dijalankan pada 15 Februari 2014 di Sungai Merbok yang meliputi 6 stesen bermula dari Stesen Semeling hingga ke Sg Dedap/Bujang dengan menaiki bot. Persampelan ini dijalankan sebulan sekali dalam tempoh setahun untuk mengkaji kualiti air berdasarkan beberapa parameter fizikokima yang diambil di lapangan serta parameter nutrien akan dikaji melalui prosedur analisis kimia di Makmal Hidrologi, USM. 

Gambar sebelum aktiviti persampelan dijalankan. Lokasi: Jeti Merbok

Dari kiri: Prof Wan Ruslan, En Adam, Cik Noraini Misnan, Cik Syazwani, En. Mohd Khusyairi

 Pemberat Ladung: Digunakan untuk mengukur kedalaman air.

Water sampler: Alat ini digunakan untuk mengambil air mengikut kedalaman yang dikehendaki.

Pemandangan indah di Sungai Merbok yang berlatarbelakangkan Gunung Jerai