Abstract:
This research had studied environmental factors that effect on sinking of artificial reefs, sediment transportation around artificial reefs, patterns and processes of sinking of artificial reef. The study site was 200 meters offshore at Ao Kham, Ko Samet, Rayong province with sandy bed and average water depth of 5-6 meters. The experiment was carried out during southwest monsoon of the year 2001. The field experiment consisted of 6 abalone artificial reefs. To detect the sediment grain size, two methods of sediment collection were used such as core sampling method for sampled bottom sediment and sediment trap method for trapped sinking sediment. To investigate sediment transport around the artificial reefs, adjacent sea bottom level with respect to referring collars and amount of deposit in sediment trap were used. Series of under water photographs were taken to show sinking process. In addition, the measurement of the progressive of sinking depths around artificial reefs were done. To measure local current, a current meter was deployed during the observation periods Observation results showed that the study area was sandy bed with median grain size of the range of 0.096-0.581 millimeters. The maximum speed of local longshore current was 88 cm/sec in the north-east direction. Moreover, after deploying the artificial reefs, sediment moved from front to lee sides and generated holes at front sides. The scour depths were depending on sediment sizes, current velocity and wave height. Moreover, the scour hole was the caused of sinking of artificial reef and sediment motion along seabed was the cause of embeding of the reef. This studied suggested that to decreased sinking of artificial reefs, the suitable reef shape design should minimize area of facing side approach to the local current. In addition, the setting position due to local current and monsoon current directions should be done. The selection site, should have critical velocity for specific sediment size lower than local current velocity. The site should be absented from wave effect. In the case of accretion at artificial reef, further study should focus on the cause of embedment, accretion rate under variant environmental conditions. In addition artificial reef deployment should be aware of impact on marine organism due to resuspension sediment from current turbulence caused by the reefs