Worldwide Typology of Nearshore Coastal Systems: Defining the Estuarine Filter of River Inputs to the Oceans

• DOI: 10.1007/s12237-011-9381-y
• Publication Date: 2011-03-02T08:15:48Z
• Authors: Hans H. Dürr; Goulven G. Laruelle; Cheryl M. van Kempen; Caroline P. Slomp; Michel Meybeck; Hans Middelkoop
• Keywords: Fjord

We present a spatially explicit global overview of nearshore coastal types, based on hydrological, lithological and morphological criteria. A total four main operational types act as active filters both dissolved suspended material entering the ocean from land: small deltas (type I), tidal systems (II), lagoons (III) fjords (IV). Large rivers (V) largely bypass filter, while karstic (VI) arheic coasts (VII) inactive filters. This typology provides new insight into spatial distribution inherent heterogeneity estuarine worldwide. The relative importance each type at scale is calculated I, II, III IV account for 32%, 22%, 8% 26% coastline, respectively, 12% have very limited filter. As an application this typology, surface area re-estimated to 1.1 × 106 km2 instead 1.4 in earlier work.