estuary
Brackish coastal waters
An estuary is a body of water where a river meets the sea, creating a zone where fresh and salt water mix.
Estuaries are typically wide, shallow, and tidal, with distinctive ecosystems supporting species adapted to brackish conditions.
The Thames estuary, Chesapeake Bay is North America's largest estuary.
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
- saltmarshCoastal wetland with brackish water
- mudflatExposed shore sediment
biodiversity · nursery · spawning · fish · shellfish · crustacean · oyster · crab
Water-deposited loose sediment
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- siltationAccumulation of fine waterborne particles
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
- distributaryBranch flowing from river
floodplain · meander · rivermouth · sediment · mudflat · accretion · fluvial · geomorphology
Water extending into land
- bayPartially enclosed water
- firthNarrow coastal inlet
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
- fjordGlacially carved coastal inlet
lagoon · embayment · coastal · riverine · confluence · mouth · headland · tidewater
Dissolved mineral concentration
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- mixingCombining into one mass
- haloclineSharp saltiness change layer
saline · gradient · dilution · tidal · interface · osmosis · alkalinity · sodium
Passage for transmission
- harborSafe anchorage for ships
- portDocking place for ships
- anchorageSecure harbor spot
- dredgingExtracting underwater sediment
buoy · pilotage · shipping · marina · wharf · jetty · berth · fairway
Gradual retreat seaward
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- lowtideOcean at minimum level
- springtideMaximum tidal range
intertidal · tidepool · currents · flushing · moon · semidiurnal · diurnal · slack
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
- saltmarshCoastal wetland with brackish water
mudflat · biodiversity · nursery · spawning · fish · shellfish · crustacean · oyster · crab · shrimp
alluvium
Water-deposited loose sediment
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- siltationAccumulation of fine waterborne particles
- depositionFormal testimony under oath
distributary · floodplain · meander · rivermouth · sediment · mudflat · accretion · fluvial · geomorphology · levee
inlet
Water extending into land
fjord · lagoon · embayment · coastal · riverine · confluence · mouth · headland · tidewater · drowned
salinity
Dissolved mineral concentration
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- mixingCombining into one mass
halocline · saline · gradient · dilution · tidal · interface · osmosis · alkalinity · sodium · chloride
channel
Passage for transmission
dredging · buoy · pilotage · shipping · marina · wharf · jetty · berth · fairway · draught
ebb
Gradual retreat seaward
springtide · intertidal · tidepool · currents · flushing · moon · semidiurnal · diurnal · slack
estuaryopen ocean
Sea far from shore
deep sea · high seas · inland lake · mountain stream · glacier
estuarytributary
Stream entering larger river
confluent · feeder stream · inlet · influx
- river estuaryTidal inlet from stream