INVESTIGATION OF THE COAGULATION MECHANISM OF THE SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER IN COASTAL WATERS

The granulometry of the suspended matter in various coastal waters collected around the Patras city in Greece, together with the average particle diameters, have been determined during 12 mo by means of a simple, quick, inexpensive and relatively accurate photosedimentometer. The particle size distributions were found to be self-preserving and independent of time, hydrologic regime, nature and amount of particulate materials and particle mobility. The experimental results show that the Brownian diffusion is the factor dominant in the flocculation processes in coastal waters. The flocculation processes of the suspended particles taking place when river water meets sea water were also investigated. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.