Investigating Seasonal Variations of Trace Metals in Particulate Matter: A Study of the Gauthami Godavari Estuary, East Coast of India (Bay of Bengal)

Abstract

The Godavari River, the third largest on the eastcoast of India, drains into the Bay of Bengal, discharging large quantities of freshwater into the coastal water, particularly during the monsoon season. Suspended particulate matter (SPM) has shown an increasing trend from the pre-monsoon to the monsoon season, followed by a decrease in the post-monsoon period in the study areas. The high concentration of SPM observed during the monsoon can be attributed to increased river discharge and land runoff, which carry significant quantities of terrestrial material into the estuary. Distinct spatial and seasonal variations in particulate trace metals have been noted. Understanding the distribution of metals in a monsoon-driven estuary like the Gauthami Godavari is essential for assessing their roles in biogeochemical cycles, their potential accumulation in organisms, and their transfer to humans through the food chain. Until now, there have been no comprehensive seasonal and spatial studies on the distribution of trace metals in the estuarine water of the Godavari. Therefore, this investigation aims to assess the spatial and seasonal distribution of particulate trace metals, specifically Iron, Nickel, Cadmium and Copper in the estuarine water of the Gauthami Godavari.