Estuarine mudflat and mangrove sedimentary environments along central west coast of India

Abstract

Estuaries are complex and dynamic aquatic environments, wherein fresh water mixes with rhythmically intruding seawater. Mudflats and mangroves are the important sedimentary sub-environments within estuaries which facilitate deposition of fine sediments, organic matter and metals from overlaying water. The cohesive sediments present in these environments protect the coast from erosion and the sediment column can be used to understand past depositional environments, sea level changes, changes in land use-land cover in the catchment area of the rivers and bioavailability of metals.