Muddy coast is defined as a coastal depositional environment which exhibits muddy sediments as a major component of the sedimentary morphodynamic system. These morphodynamic deposits possess textural characteristics containing a high proportion of silt and clay, and exhibit identifiable sub-tidal, intertidal, and supra-tidal stratigraphy. Such deposits tend to form extensive low-gradient morphological surfaces, and are often manifest as broad intertidal flats, colloquially termed “mudflats.”
The visually obvious muddy coastal sedimentary deposits and geomorphic forms occur mainly within the intertidal zone of coastal fringe waters, and are clearly evident as surficial deposits forming tidal flat and drainage channel deposits. Muddy coastal depositional environments also occur in nearshore sub-tidal locations characterized by relatively low energy hydrodynamic conditions, such as in shallow estuaries and embayments. But direct marine processes influencing muddy deposition extend inland...
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Healy, T.R. (2019). Muddy Coasts. In: Finkl, C.W., Makowski, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93806-6_220
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