salt wedge

views updated May 23 2018

salt wedge An intrusion of sea water into a tidal estuary in the form of a wedge along the bed of the estuary. The lighter fresh water from riverine sources overrides the denser salt water from marine sources unless mixing of the water masses is caused by estuarine topography. Salt wedges are found in estuaries where a river discharges through a relatively narrow channel.

salt wedge

views updated May 08 2018

salt wedge An intrusion of sea water into a tidal estuary in the form of a wedge along the bed of the estuary. The lighter fresh water from riverine sources overrides the denser salt water from marine sources unless mixing of the water masses is caused by estuarine topography. Salt wedges are found in estuaries where a river discharges through a relatively narrow channel.

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