Estuary as a sedimentary depositional environment: A review

Abstract

Estuaries are one of the important sub environments of the coastal zone wherein fresh waters mix with saline waters, and facilitate deposition of liner sediments, organic matter and metals. Sediments are distributed after sorting with respect to their size which is controlled and regulated by tides within the estuaries. In this process, highly dynamic environment near the mouth retains coarser sediments and finer sediments along with organic matter get deposited within mid estuary. Mudflats and mangroves in the mid estuary are sites of deposition. Anthropogenic activities like mining, industry, enhanced agricultural practices, dam construction and diverting fresh water in the recent years change the quantity of input from land altering the estuarine processes. Rate of deposition and composition of sediments have changed. Dominance of marine processes in the recent years is recorded.