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Estuaries Background and Definitions

The document discusses key aspects of estuaries: 1) Estuaries have unique physical processes like opposing current systems from river flows and tides, chemical mixing of fresh and saltwater, and physiological challenges for organisms from changing salinity. 2) An estuary is defined as a semi-enclosed coastal body of water connected to the sea and having different salinity from ocean water due to freshwater inputs while supporting estuarine biota. 3) Estuarine circulation varies from highly stratified salt-wedge estuaries to fully mixed systems and is influenced by factors like tidal range and freshwater inflow.

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110 views17 pages

Estuaries Background and Definitions

The document discusses key aspects of estuaries: 1) Estuaries have unique physical processes like opposing current systems from river flows and tides, chemical mixing of fresh and saltwater, and physiological challenges for organisms from changing salinity. 2) An estuary is defined as a semi-enclosed coastal body of water connected to the sea and having different salinity from ocean water due to freshwater inputs while supporting estuarine biota. 3) Estuarine circulation varies from highly stratified salt-wedge estuaries to fully mixed systems and is influenced by factors like tidal range and freshwater inflow.

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Manuel Diaz Gomez
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Estuaries: Background and

Definitions
Professor Mike Elliott, Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies,
University of Hull, University of Hull, HU6 7RX, UK;
Mike.Elliott@hull.ac.uk
There are a number of processes that occur in estuaries but are
absent from either river or marine ecosystems. Reid and Wood (1976)
suggested that there are three main factors involved:

• usually there are two opposing current systems which vary according
to relative magnitudes of river flow and tidal regime. These water
currents exert considerable effects upon sedimentation, water mixing
and other physical features within an estuary.

• the mixing of sea- and fresh-water produces a chemical environment,


represented mainly by salinity change, unlike that of either the marine or
river ecosystem.

• the changing salinities in association with tidal and riverine movements


necessitate physiological adjustment by all inhabitants of the estuary.
Estuarine Definitions:
3 important components that need to be incorporated into the
definition of an estuary: coastal containment, the mixing of fresh
water with sea water and the presence of an estuarine biota.

Hence the following global definition:

“An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which is


connected to the sea either permanently or periodically, has a
salinity that is different from that of the adjacent open ocean due
to freshwater inputs, and includes a characteristic biota”.

This definition encompasses those estuaries that close and are


therefore not tidal, as well as those that are sometimes
hyperhaline. It also includes coastal systems (e.g. certain
estuarine lagoons and bays) that do not have inflowing rivers
but where groundwater inputs provide estuarine conditions that
support an estuarine biota.
(Whitfield & Elliott 2011, Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science)
Dynamic mixture

transitional area - main features - salinity,


current strength variability, tidal amplitude,
wave strength, deposition of sediments,
temperature, oxygen, nutrient fluxes.
Physical Shape

1) fundamentally defined by deposition of


fine-grained sediments;
2) underlying geology to produce inlet,
fjord, etc.
3) tidal currents generated by the tidal
wave progression through the estuary;
4) residual currents generated by saline
and freshwater mixing;
(5) wind-driven currents of minor
importance).
Stylised examples of (a) a classical northern
hemisphere macrotidal estuary with a
longitudinal salinity gradient and (b-e)
SWAustralian Estuaries, which typically
comprise a short and narrow entrance channel,
wide central basin and the lower reaches of
their tributary river(s). (b) Estuary permanently
open to the sea with a longitudinal salinity
gradient; (c) estuary permanently open to the
sea with an overall longitudinal salinity gradient
but with a region of hypersalinity; (d) estuary
seasonally closed to the sea by a sand bar
across its mouth (dotted box)but remaining
hyposaline, and (e) estuary normally closed by
a sand bar at its mouth and which is markedly
hypersaline. (Noted often in Australian and
South African Estuaries)
Tidal Wave

1) energy dissipated with progress up estuary due to bed friction


(thus lead to decrease in wave height);
2) energy may be reflected from narrowing sides back into centre;
3) asymmetry of tidal wave with progression up estuary (i.e. short
flood, long ebb);

Tidal Asymmetry

Leading to:
(i) differential velocities between ebb and flood tides;
(ii) more sediment deposited on ebb tide than flood tide;
(iii) upper part of estuarine channels become net sediment
traps.
Estuarine Circulation Types

Highly stratified, salt-wedge estuaries, e.g. Mississippi, N. Esk.


Fjords, e.g. W. Coast sea lochs.
Partially mixed, e.g. Mersey, Forth.
Homogenous, fully mixed, e.g. Solway, Delaware.

A. Salt-wedge Estuaries (highly stratified)

small tidal range, thus very little mixing; high freshwater inflow, not too
much mixing, up and down stream migration of salt-wedge, little bed-load
transported in from the sea but some suspended load may be brought in
from the sea; much freshwater bed and suspended load; may produce
sand bars at wedge tip or delta at mouth (dominated by fluvial sands).
B. Partially-mixed Estuaries

Large tidal range, small river input, greater mixing than A but still
some vertical salinity difference; more marine sediment (bed-load
and suspended load) input; coarse sediment bedload deposited at
mouth but fine sediments transported inland; suspended load deposited
at upstream limit of saltwater flow.

C. Well-mixed (homogeneous) Estuaries

Wide estuaries (> 0.5 km) in relation to depth; strong tidal currents,
weak river flows; no vertical salinity gradient but possibly lateral one;
Coriolis force leading to fw and sw going to their right (in N hemisphere);
some lateral mixing; marine sediments brought into estuary and deposited
in right bank (going inland) and vice versa for fluvial sediments.
Classification and Distribution of Estuarine Organisms

River limnetic

Head oligohaline

Upper mixohaline

Middle true estuarine

Lower euryhaline marine

Mouth stenohaline marine migrants


Regions of an Estuary

Head - f.w. enter, river currents predominate; tidal but very limited
(if any) salt penetration. TFA and start of FSI; salinity <5psu.
Sediments becoming finer downstream.

Upper reaches - FSI, mixing of f.w. and s.w. Minimal currents especially
at high tide, leading to turbidity maximum. Mud deposition,
Salinity 5 - 18 psu.

Middle reaches - currents due to tides and bottom topography.


Principally mud deposits but sandier where currents faster.
Salinity 18-25psu.

Lower reaches - faster currents due to tides. Principally sand deposits


but muddier where currents weaken. Salinity 25-30psu.

Mouth - strong tidal currents. Clean sand or rocky shores. Salinity


>30psu similar to adjacent sea.

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