fresh water input from rivers
yo mother knows it ! - keysha
The main watershed in Virginia is the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are the largest estuary in the United States, and the watershed covers parts of six states including Virginia.
An estuary is not a watershed, but they are related concepts. A watershed, or drainage basin, is an area of land where all the water drains into a common outlet, such as a river or lake. In contrast, an estuary is a coastal area where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean, typically serving as a transition zone between land and sea. While watersheds contribute freshwater to estuaries, they represent different environmental features.
They are the home to many animals and plants. They also protect the quality of the water by filtering out the pollution and dirt.
They are the home to many animals and plants. They also protect the quality of the water by filtering out the pollution and dirt.
The largest watershed in Virginia is the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It encompasses parts of six states, including Virginia, and covers approximately 64,000 square miles. The watershed plays a crucial role in the region's ecology, economy, and water quality, feeding into the Chesapeake Bay, which is the largest estuary in the United States. The health of this watershed is vital for both environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of those who depend on its resources.
The average precipitation of an estuary can vary greatly depending on its location and climate. Estuaries are typically located in coastal regions where they receive precipitation from both land and sea sources. The average precipitation of an estuary is usually calculated by measuring the amount of rainfall and snowfall that occurs in the surrounding watershed and then estimating how much of that water flows into the estuary. This calculation can be influenced by factors such as topography, vegetation, and human activities in the watershed.
The six regions within a watershed typically include the headwater, upstream, midstream, downstream, floodplain, and estuary. The headwater is the source of the water, usually found in higher elevations. The upstream region collects water from various sources, while the midstream and downstream regions facilitate flow towards larger bodies of water. The floodplain is the area adjacent to the river that can be flooded, and the estuary is where freshwater meets saltwater, often supporting diverse ecosystems.
A nested watershed is simply a watershed within a watershed. An example might be the Platte River watershed which is a nested watershed within the Missouri River watershed which in turn is nested within the Mississippi River watershed.
Water from a small stream on a mountain in North Carolina can significantly impact a distant estuary through a series of interconnected processes. As the stream flows downstream, it carries nutrients, sediments, and pollutants, which can alter water quality and ecosystem health in the estuary. Additionally, the stream contributes to the overall watershed hydrology, influencing river flow and salinity levels in the estuary. These changes can affect local wildlife, fisheries, and the overall ecological balance of the estuarine environment.
The plural form of estuary is estuaries.
Organisms use a watershed for drinking water, absorbing nutrients, sheltering and reproducing. Watersheds provide habitats for various plants and animals to thrive, supporting biodiversity and ecological balance. The health of a watershed directly impacts the health and survival of the organisms living within it.