Study of physico-chemical parameters of water in the Loukkos river estuary (Larache, Morocco)

In the context of the knowledge of the functioning of estuaries and the evolution of abiotic factors on the basis of the marine dynamics, a study was conducted at the level of the Loukkos river estuary. Water samples were collected seasonally from March to September during 2006 in 5 stations, spread throughout the estuary. Monitoring of several parameters showed significant variations. Indeed, the temperature of water ranging from 19.20 at 29.70°C, the pH is alkaline fluctuating from 7.02 to 7.99, salinity reach 29.50 mg/l, dissolved oxygen fluctuated between 2.17 and 12.33 mg/l and conductivity which follows the profile of salinity indicating the degree of mineralization of mean ranging from 593 to 54700 μs/cm. This research reveals to identify a spatial and temporal functional dynamism of the study estuary denoting the existence of two gradients: the first, upstream downstream, very marked at high tide, linked to marine and ocean inflow hydrodynamics and the second that in relation to the upstream water intake is very marked at low tide.