Encyclopedia of Estuaries

Estuaries rank among the most productive and important environments on Earth with exceptional ecological, recreational and commercial value. These critical coastal environments are of international interest not only because of their ecological significance but also their value to human welfare. They are heavily utilized by people worldwide for a multitude of purposes. The many, varied, and increasingly complex problems arising from human use of estuaries have resulted in numerous measures to protect and preserve their vital resources and to assess each system’s physical, chemical, and biological conditions.

The Encyclopedia of Estuaries, part of Springer’s Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series, will provide a single, state-of-the-art, comprehensive reference volume on estuaries for research scientists, educators, students, and others. Consisting of hundreds of subject entries in an easy-to-use format, this volume will cover all aspects of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of estuaries. Authors from around the world will contribute to the encyclopedia on such diverse subjects as biotic communities, essential habitats, food webs, fisheries, hydrology, pollution, conservation, and many more. The Encyclopedia of Estuaries will meet the needs of professionals worldwide by supplying detailed information from world-class estuarine and marine scientists as well as experts from other fields of study.

Provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art coverage of estuarine science

Details current knowledge and recent advances on estuaries

Encompasses a broad spectrum of natural phenomena in estuarine systems

A valuable reference on estuarine biology, chemistry, geology, and physics

The most comprehensive, multidisciplinary source of information on estuaries