Sediment Dynamic in Barito Delta, Southern Kalimantan, Indonesia

The objective of the research was to analyze the sediment dynamic during wet and dry seasons both in subaqueous and subaerial of Barito Delta. Barito Delta is located in southern part of Kalimantan Island. The delta boundaries are Barito River in the East, Kapuas Murung River in the West, Java Sea in the South and PulauPetak River in the North. The decline of forest land in the delta and in the catchment might increase the sediment supply for delta development.The data of the research were collected through field survey both in the subaqueous and in the subaerial. The equipment used in the research was sediment sampler for the subaqueous and hand auger for the subaerial. The sediments taken in both areas of subaqueous and subaerial were treated for grain size, sorting and skewness. The sediment deposition pattern was analyzed through Landsat imageries interpretation. The results proof that sediment grain size in subaqueous delta in wet season consisted of clay, silt, fine sand and medium sand. Sorting of sediment in wet season and dry season was poor-very poor. The skewness in wet season had the positive value in all samples while the skewness in dry season had partly negative value and partly positive value. Tidal and wave came from seaside had important role for sediment redistribution during dry season, especially along the Kapuas Murung River. The texture of sediment in subaerial was dominated by fine sediment with mottles due to the influence of quartz materials and tide fluctuation. Peat ripe status in Barito delta is sapric-peaty soil.