DefinePK

Abstract

Unlike other estuaries in the world, Hooghly estuary in India, (study zone-21^o44^’42^”/87^o56^’00^” to 22^o04^’50^”/88^o13^’25^”) deserve special attention especially in regard of its seasonally varied movement, orientation of its submerged sand bodies i.e., bars and shoals and tortuous shipping route, which are typical of it’s kind. However on account of insufficient data to study the estuarine tidal basin, quantitative analysis (vectorial approach) of the estuarine part vis-à-vis tidal part remains synoptic even till date. Nonetheless the estuarine part, below Diamond Harbour, was less problematic in the past compared to the upper tidal part from Diamond Harbour to Kolkata. But nowadays it is seen that the erratic behaviour of the shoals and bars of the upper part has gained stability to some extent, whereas the estuarine part comprising middle and upper estuary i.e., from Auckland to Diamond Harbour have developed some morphological changes in a rapid progressive manner. The aim of this paper is to set forth in a study on the basis of energy dissipation rate, along with other concomitant parameters like salinity, tide, flux etc associated with the changes of different shipping routes of the estuary (Sagor/sea face to up stream of Nayachara island) and the probable optimization of the length of that route which may be inflicted in future, if new routes are to be opened, as well as enlargement of submerged sand bodies.