GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. In estuaries, the salty ocean mixes with a freshwater river, resulting in brackish water.

Detailed explanation-2: -An estuary is a partially enclosed, coastal water body where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean.

Detailed explanation-3: -As fresh water is less dense than saltwater, it floats above the seawater. A sharp boundary is created between the water masses, with fresh water floating on top and a wedge of saltwater on the bottom. Some mixing does occur at the boundary between the two water masses, but it is generally slight.

Detailed explanation-4: -The mixture of seawater and fresh water in estuaries is called brackish water and its salinity can range from 0.5 to 35 ppt. The salinity of estuarine water varies from estuary to estuary, and can change from one day to the next depending on the tides, weather, or other factors.

Detailed explanation-5: -The term estuary is derived from the Latin words aestus (“the tide”) and aestuo (“boil”), indicating the effect generated when tidal flow and river flow meet. Estuaries are places where rivers meet the sea and may be defined as areas where salt water is measurably diluted with fresh water.