Salobres waters: definition and examples

As we have already advanced, the brackish waters are those that contain concentrations of dissolved salts greater than fresh water but lower than sea water. Now that you know the definition of brackish waters, we will see some of its characteristics:

• It is necessary that brackish water bodies have a Fresh water or salt water income: According to where they are.
• Salobre water contains between 0.05% and 3% salt: Below or above those values, fresh or salted water is considered respectively.
• Water brackish can measure through conductivity: The greater the content of salts dissolved in the water, the greater the electrical conductivity.
• There may exist presence of different compounds: These compounds that can be found in brackish waters are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate, carbonate and nitrate.
• Bump water can find in different places: On the surface, near seas or salt rocks, but also under the earth in aquifers.
• Salobre water can Use in the thermoelectric energy industry: To cool the generators, for the irrigation of some cultivation fields and for the raising of some fish species.
• Beathered water You can industrially describe: The process is carried out by reverse osmosis to use it as drinking water, being able to be an alternative to the shortage of water in the world.

After this list with the characteristics of the brackish waters, then we detail the formation of these waters and the types that exist with examples.

Recall that one of the characteristics of brackish waters can be found both on the surface and under the ground. According to the source of originthat is, according to where the brackish waters are located, the different types that exist are the following:

Albuferes

They are coastal lagoons that have formed with seawater but have been partially separated from it, so, thanks to a fresh water income, such as by rain and low seawater flowthey become salobres waters.

They are usually in areas in Where the tide is not very strongIn this way, the sediments are deposited by cluster until they form a small separation barrier.

Estuaries

They are formed When the fresh water of a river meets the sea and its waters are mixed forming brackish water. They are partially closed coastal bodies since one part is surrounded by the coast and the other open towards the sea.

These ecosystems also receive the name of lagoons, ports, bays or channels, but in all of them the characteristic that defines them is the same. The estuaries are One of the most productivity ecosystems In the world, thanks to the retention of nutrients in these areas.

You may be interested in knowing more about estuaries: characteristics, types, flora and fauna in Ecology Verde.

Aquifers of brackish water

There are two types of salobre water aquifers, are those that are formed by:

• Be in contact with sea water: They are located near the coast, where the groundwater under the sea is salty, and also near the water of the continent, where the water is sweet and are constantly mixing. There is an interface area formed by brackish water that rises to the sea, so it is constantly “losing” fresh water avoiding the entry of seawater.
• Not being in contact with sea water: They are those that are formed by the effect of mineral rocks that are eroding with the water and solubilizing the salts, the water infiltrates and accumulates in the aquifers with a certain degree of salinity.

We tell you more about what an aquifer is: definition and how it is formed, in addition to types of aquifers in these posts that we suggest.

Thousands are the examples of brackish waters on planet Earth, but today we are going to mention 6 of them:

• Chesapeake Bay: It is the largest estuary in the United States, it is east of the country in contact with the Atlantic Ocean. In the bay more than 150 rivers flow and covers an area of ​​166,534 km².
• Albufera of Valencia: It is a coastal lagoon located on the Balearic sea that was declared a Natural Park. It is of great environmental importance, in it there are endangered species such as fartet (APCICAPHANIUS IBERUS) and the Samarugo (Hispanic Valencia).
• Thames estuary: where the Thames river flows over the North Sea on the eastern coast of Great Britain. It constitutes an important access to marine traffic in the area. This estuary has the second largest tidal movement in the world, water can rise to 4 meters.
• Laguna de Mar Chiquita: Located in Argentina, it is a lagoon separated from the sea by dunes, it was declared as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. The brackish of this lagoon is because it receives water from the Argentine Sea and continental freshwater streams.
• Estario del Río de la Plata: Located in Argentina and Uruguay, where the Río de la Plata, formed by the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, flows into the Atlantic Ocean, forming a significant estuary.
• Albufera de Mallorca: It is a lagoon located on the island of Mallorca, which is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by a cord of dunes. It has been declared a natural park with an area of ​​20.36 km².

If you want to read more articles similar to Salobres waters: definition and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.