Year: 1967
Type: article
Abstract: The salinity in the upper 20 cm of intertidal sands was observed at two stations in Tomales Bay, California. In summer, there were no striking variations associated with elevation, except for the effect of evaporation. In winter, the influx of freshwater provides sufficient contrast between interstitial and open water to reveal features of circulation. High on the beach, the interstitial salinity at the 10‐ and 20‐cm depth remains low through the tidal cycle. The salinity at 10 cm remains higher than at 20 cm. At an elevation of 1.0 m, the salinities at 10 and 20 cm converge. Below this elevation, interstitial salinity varies less than in the adjacent open waters of the bay. The environment of the infauna of the low intertidal zone is more stable than that of epifaunal or pelagic organisms in shallow water. The variations high in the intertidal zone must constitute a major obstacle to the spread of marine organisms into this area.
Source: Limnology and Oceanography
Author: Ralph Gordon Johnson
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2157486166