What is an estuary?
An estuary is where the ocean meets a river in a semi-enclosed area. This causes a mixing of fresh and salt water. These areas are home to an immense amount of biological productivity and diversity. Estuaries tend to be rich in nutrients and productivity due to the trapping of nutrients and sediments.
An estuary is where the ocean meets a river in a semi-enclosed area. This causes a mixing of fresh and salt water. These areas are home to an immense amount of biological productivity and diversity. Estuaries tend to be rich in nutrients and productivity due to the trapping of nutrients and sediments.
4. Tectonic:
Tectonic estuaries are coastal indentations due to faulting and subsidence. Both fresh and salt water flow into the depression resulting in an estuary.
Tectonic estuaries are coastal indentations due to faulting and subsidence. Both fresh and salt water flow into the depression resulting in an estuary.
Estuaries can also be classified by the circulation patterns:
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