THE EFFECT OF A DRY AND A WET SUMMER ON THE THERMAL AND SALINITY STRUCTURE OF THE MIDDLE AND UPPER REACHES OF THE KEISKAMMA ESTUARY, CISKEI

SUMMARY

Changes in the thermal and salinity structure were recorded in the Keiskamma estuary during a dry (1979–80) and a wet (1980–81) summer respectively. In the dry summer the estuary was homogeneous with respect to salinity and temperature, whereas in the wet summer it was markedly heterogeneous. These highly variable conditions are discussed in relation to those found in American, European and Australian coastal plain estuaries.