Knowra Lagoon Lagoon A shallow coastal water body separated from the sea by a barrier such as a reef, sandbar, or barrier island. Its water may be seawater, freshwater, or a mixture.
Barrier island : A long, narrow offshore island that runs parallel to a mainland coast. Barrier islands shelter many lagoons from direct wave action.
Tidal prism : The volume of water flowing into or out of a tidal basin between high and low tide. Its size helps determine how strongly tides flush a lagoon.
Coastal wetland : A wetland situated along a coast and influenced by tides, saltwater, or coastal processes. Lagoons belong to a wider coastal wetland landscape.
Venice Lagoon : A shallow lagoon in northeastern Italy containing Venice and several smaller islands. Its settlement, tidal flows, and engineered barriers illustrate a heavily used lagoon.
Sandbar : A submerged or partly exposed ridge of sand built by waves and currents. Sandbars can form the barrier that separates a lagoon from the sea.
Water residence time : The average time water remains within a defined water body before being replaced. Long residence times allow lagoon water properties and pollutants to accumulate.
Seagrass meadow : An underwater ecosystem formed by flowering plants rooted in shallow marine sediments. Sheltered lagoon waters often provide habitat for seagrass.
Chilika Lake : A brackish coastal lagoon in Odisha, India, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a sand barrier. Its changing sea connection shows how barrier openings affect lagoon ecology.
Coral reef : A marine structure built chiefly from the calcium-carbonate skeletons of corals and other organisms. Reef crests enclose lagoons in many tropical settings.
Coastal sediment transport : The movement of sediment along and across shorelines by waves, currents, and wind. Sediment transport builds, shifts, and breaches lagoon barriers.
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