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Why is Galveston Bay considered an estuary?
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estuary
Four main types of estuaries: (A) salt wedge estuary, (B) partially mixed estuary, (C) vertically homogeneous estuary, and (D) fjord (black arrows indicate salt water and white arrows fresh).
Galveston Bay is classified as an estuary because it is a partly enclosed coastal body of water where river water and seawater undergo considerable mixing.12
Specifically, the bay receives freshwater inflow from the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers, which then mixes with the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico. This environment is defined by these salinity boundaries, where salt water is measurably diluted by fresh water. While it is geographically a bay, it functions as an estuary due to this unique water circulation, which traps nutrients and creates a highly productive ecosystem.12