A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Engineering at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1975

The research reported herein was conducted to study the dynamic characteristics namely, discharge, rainfall, suspended sediment, type of soil and vegetation, tides and currents, winds and waves of nine southern rivers draining to the nine harbors of Thailand. This information will (i) serve later as the inputs to the estuary for more detailed study of the mechani'sm of siltation and scour, (ii) identify important factors affecting siltation and (iii) will help for perfect planning of detailed study with minimum measurement and less effort. The relationship between streamflow, rainfall and drainage area was obtained to predict the mean annual discharge from the ungagged catchments. Water discharge and sediment discharge relationship was established to estimate the approximate quantity of suspended sediment loads coming down to each harbor area. The result of the wave forecasting, using 24 hour wind duration in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman sea, show good trend when compared with some observed wave characteristics. Types of soils in the catchment area of the harbors, the shoreline and bed materials were also studied. The nine harbors are then classified as 'river type' which includes Ranong, Takua Pa, Satun, Bandon, Samut Songkram, Samut Sakorn, and 'coastal type' which includes Pak Panang, Chumporn and Trat.