Journal of Coastal Zone Management

Importance and the Characteristics of Estuaries Coastal Water

Galal Nash^* Department of Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
^*Correspondence: Galal Nash, Department of Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, Email:

Received: 05-Sep-2022, Manuscript No. JCZM-22-18192; Editor assigned: 07-Sep-2022, Pre QC No. JCZM-22-18192 (PQ); Reviewed: 22-Sep-2022, QC No. JCZM-22-18192; Revised: 30-Sep-2022, Manuscript No. JCZM-22-18192 (R); Published: 07-Oct-2022

Description

Estuaries, coastal wetlands, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, mangrove forests, kelp forests, and upwelling zones are examples of coastal habitats. 85 percent of the migrating birds that pass through the United States breed in coastal waters, which are home to numerous fish species. They also serve as home for a wide variety of other creatures, including corals, sea turtles, underwater aquatic plants, and marine mammals. Numerous human endeavors, including tourism, recreation, transportation, and fishing, depend on coastal waterways. People are highly drawn to living on coastal land.

Less than a thousandth of one percent of the water on the world is contained in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, but they perform many essential tasks for the ecosystem and human life. Numerous plant and animal species can find a home in these fresh surface waters, which support ecological systems. Additionally, they provide for a wide range of human needs, such as drinking water, irrigation, wastewater treatment, livestock, industrial applications, hydropower, and leisure. Additionally, the amount and state of other water resources, such as ground water, wetlands, and coastal systems downstream, are impacted by fresh surface waters.

Marshes, swamps, bogs, and other similar regions that occasionally become saturated with or inundated by water are considered to be wetlands. They operate as a barrier against erosion and flooding, as well as being important linkages in the world's water cycle. They also provide food and habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals.

Wetlands have the sponge-like capacity to absorb water, which allows them to reduce the speed of floodwaters or storm surges along the coast. Wetlands' extensive root systems stabilise the soil and trap contaminants, enhancing the water quality organically. The biologically productive environments in the globe include wetlands. Their microbial activity adds nutrients to the water and soil. Wetlands serve as a "sink" for a variety of substances, including atmospheric carbon.

Extent of coastal water

With regard to particular types of coastal waters, such coastal wetlands and coral reefs, the extent of coastal waters their spatial area is particularly significant. Storms and other natural occurrences like erosion can have an impact on extent. Human activities such as building seawalls or barriers or draining wetlands for construction can also alter it. Rivers that would normally be replenished by sediments by natural processes may "sink" as a result of river channeling in coastal regions.

Coastline water quality

A number of interconnected physical, chemical, biological, and ecological traits can be seen in the state of coastal waters. Numerous stresses can have an impact on the state of coastal waters.

Sewage discharge or overflows, agricultural runoff, and storm water can all include nutrients and pathogens. Algal blooms that result in low dissolved oxygen levels and destroy aquatic life can be brought on by an excess of nutrients. People who consume contaminated fish or shellfish or enjoy recreational water use are at risk for contracting pathogens.

Sources of chemical contamination include industrial processes, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition of airborne pollutants.

Weather patterns or the state of freshwater inputs can affect changes in temperature and salinity. Toxic compounds in consumable fish and shellfish are of particular concern to human health. These alterations may have an impact on algal blooms, the condition of native plant and animal populations, and the quality of the habitat.

The absence of a wetland condition indicator represents a bigger gap. Because condition is made up of so many diverse factors, it is challenging to quantify. Each wetland has a distinct baseline condition, function, hydrology (water flow), and combination of plant and animal species. A full national survey of wetland conditions is being conducted, and the results may yield additional indicators in the future.