Geology, geomorphology, oceanography and meteorology of Malindi Bay
Malindi Bay covers a shoreline of about 45 km between Ras Ngomeni Peninsula in the north and Leopard point in the south, encompassing townships of Malindi and Mambrui and the Sabaki river estuary. In the 1980's a number of geological investigations were carried in the Kenya south coast area, which has similar rock outcrops as in Malindi area. However, a few geological studies have been conducted in Malindi area mainly involving geological mapping. Data on the Sabaki river flow discharge rates has been collected by Ministry of Water Development from the 1960's. In addition, other pertinent information on the historical changes of the coastline over the past 40 years are obtainable from a series of Arial photographs during 1954 and 1994. The coastal belt of Kenya experiences an equatorial Monsoon climate with Southeast Trades prevailing from April to October and Northeast Monsoon from November to March. Wind speeds seldom exceed 14 ms super(-1) during both monsoon seasons. The coastal area has a humid climate with average rainfall of 1058 mm year super(-1) with two rainy seasons respectively referred to as the long and short rains. Monthly variations in air temperature from normal are slight, and closely related to the sea water temperature. The continental slope is generally characterised by gentle gradients of about 1:20 to the shelf edge and shows dissected appearance due to sub-aerial fluvial action. Sediment distribution off the Kenya coast in general shows that sand appears to be the principal constituent of the shelf floor, with mud dominant in the deeper water.
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| Format: | Book Section biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Acts Press
1998
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| Subjects: | Geomorphology, Dunes, Sediment distribution, River discharge, Coastal morphology, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/8869 |
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| Summary: | Malindi Bay covers a shoreline of about 45 km between Ras Ngomeni Peninsula in the north and Leopard point in the south, encompassing townships of Malindi and Mambrui and the Sabaki river estuary. In the 1980's a number of geological investigations were carried in the Kenya south coast area, which has similar rock outcrops as in Malindi area. However, a few geological studies have been conducted in Malindi area mainly involving geological mapping. Data on the Sabaki river flow discharge rates has been collected by Ministry of Water Development from the 1960's. In addition, other pertinent information on the historical changes of the coastline over the past 40 years are obtainable from a series of Arial photographs during 1954 and 1994. The coastal belt of Kenya experiences an equatorial Monsoon climate with Southeast Trades prevailing from April to October and Northeast Monsoon from November to March. Wind speeds seldom exceed 14 ms super(-1) during both monsoon seasons. The coastal area has a humid climate with average rainfall of 1058 mm year super(-1) with two rainy seasons respectively referred to as the long and short rains. Monthly variations in air temperature from normal are slight, and closely related to the sea water temperature. The continental slope is generally characterised by gentle gradients of about 1:20 to the shelf edge and shows dissected appearance due to sub-aerial fluvial action. Sediment distribution off the Kenya coast in general shows that sand appears to be the principal constituent of the shelf floor, with mud dominant in the deeper water. |
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