Categories
vol-22STUDIES ON THE PHYSICO~CHEMICAL
CHARACTERISTICS OF MEX BAYAND NEWDEKHAILA
HARBOUR WATERS OF ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
BY
F.T. R. TAYEL*; M.A. FAHMY AND M. M.A. SHERIADAH , ‘ ..
*National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries,Alexandria, Egypt.
Key Words: Physical Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Medi~rraneanSea.
ABSTRACT
A comprehensive environmental study was carried out in four
successive seasonal cruises for evaluating ~he effect ofcontamination
with different kinds ofsewage, agricultural and industrial wastes on the
water quality of Mex Bay and new Dekhaila Harbour ofAlexandriafor
their management and protection. In the present investigation, water
temperatures were directly affected by solar radiation and seasonal
changes in air temperatures. Salinity ofMex Bay and Dekhaila waters
was mostly influenced by the amounts of sewage waters discharged
through Umum Drain and the rate ofexchange with the adjoining open
s.ea water. The variability ofpH values in the surface water ofMex Bay
was explained to 55% by DO followed by organic matter (PV) contents.
However, in Dekhaila Harbour, DO in the surface and total alkalinity in
the bottom waters were the only variables fitted in the stepwise
regression model that affected pH values. The mean values of total
alkalinity showed .higher levels in the surface water ofthe two study
regions during the whole period of”investigation, except in Augustfor
Dekhaila Harbour. The important role of photosynthetic activity in
increasing the alkalinity values in summer’ and decreasing them in
winter was observed and statistically confirmed. The mean values of
specific alkalinity in the two water bodies were noticeably high
compared with the accepted values for the oceanic water. DO and its
related parameters (BOD and PV) have been used, as basic water
quality criteria for assessing sewage pollution. The most important
TA YEL, F. T
