A comparative study of the trace metal fluxes of t the Bang Pakong and the Mae Klong Rivers, Thailand

Abstract

Of the four major rivers draining into the Upper Gulf of Thailand, the Bang Pakong and the Mae Klong Rivers were selected for study of their inputs to the coastal zone because of their distinctive water characteristics. The Bank Pakong River drains acidic soils, while the Mae Klong is slightly alkaline and contains high concentrations of silicate and calcium. Both rivers were studied during the dry and wet seasons. It was found that, in the Bang Pakong, there appeared to be removal of some dissolved trace metals of particulates in the low-salinity region of the estuary, while this behaviour was not found in the Mae Klong River. In the Mae Klong, the high amount of particulates in the freshwater stretch of the river precipitated quickly in the low-salinity region.