Understanding Estuaries

The video explains estuaries, which are bodies of water where fresh water meets the ocean, creating a semi-enclosed coastal area. It uses the Savannah River as an example, highlighting how it forms an estuary by flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. Estuaries are characterized by brackish water, a mix of salt and fresh water, and are crucial for marine life as they serve as nurseries for many organisms due to the abundance of phytoplankton that support the food chain.

What is an estuary?

• A body of water where fresh water meets the ocean

• A freshwater lake

• A type of desert

• A mountain range

Which river in Georgia creates an estuary by flowing into the Atlantic Ocean?

• Amazon River

• Mississippi River

• Savannah River

• Colorado River

What type of water is found in estuaries?

• Distilled water

• Brackish water

• Saltwater

• Freshwater

Why are estuaries referred to as the 'nurseries of the sea'?

• They have the highest salt concentration

• They are the largest bodies of water

• They are the deepest parts of the ocean

• They are home to many young marine animals

What role do phytoplankton play in estuaries?

• They provide food for many organisms

• They increase the salt content

• They decrease water temperature

• They create sand dunes