Seasonal Variation of Some Physical and Chemical Parameters of Luubara Creek, Ogoni Land, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The seasonal variation of some physical and chemical conditions in Luubara creek of Ogoni land in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria was studied for a period of two years (January, 2006 to December, 2007). Dry season ambient temperature range from 31.76-32.74oC (32.27±0.40oC) while the wet season range was 29.17-30.14oC (±29.58 ±0.41oC (28.80±15oC) while the wet season values were between 26.45oC and 26.90 (26.70±0.19oC). The pH recorded in the dry season was between 6.01 and 6.13 (6.08±0.05) while the wet season values were 6.55-6.87 (6.74±0.14). The total alkalinity in the dry season range from 9.50 to 9.72 mg/L with a mean of 9.59±0.9 mg/L. This was higher than the wet season which was between 6.73 and 9.34 mg/L (7.90±1.08 mg/L. The electrical conductivity in the dry season was within the range of 13.39 and 22.22 μ/cm (16.08±4.48 while the wet season values range from 11.68 to 15.46 μ/cm (13.44±1.55). The turbidity values in the dry season were between 2.44 NTU and 2.56 NTU (3.40±1.31). This was lower than the wet season values which was between 5.25 NTU and 5.79 NTU (5.61±0.25 NTU). The dry season dissolved oxygen values ranged between 5.17 and 5.83mg/L (5.63±0.33 mg/L). This was lower than the wet season values which range between 5.89 and 6.43 mg/L (6.14±0.22 mg/L). The salinity in the wet season was zero for all the stations. However, station 3 recorded salinity of 0 to 0.09‰ (0.03±0.04‰). The phosphate values in the dry season range between 0.05 and 0.14 mg/L (0.11±0.04 mg/L) while the wet season range was between 0.05 and 0.09 mg/L (0.06±0.02 mg/L). The nitrate values in the dry sea son range between 0.33 to 0.56 mg/L (0.42±0.10 mg/L) which was higher than the wet season values which range 0.11-0.34 mg/L (0.21±0.10 mg/L).