Abstract: A common set of chemical reactions determine the sedimentary environment in estuarine and coastal sediments, whether they are impermeable muds in low-energy environments or sands in high-energy environemnts. The oxidation of organic matter by a predictable sequence of electron acceptors leads to the creation of zones in the sediments. The most important zones are characterized by the presence of oxygen, then dissolved iron, then dissolved sulfide. The formation of authigenic minerals, most importantly iron oxides and sulfides, is also central to the creation of the sedimentary environment. This sedimentary environment plays key roles in coastal cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and anthropogenic contaminants.
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 21
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