Our Ocean: How It Works
Tony Vuolo
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Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an
estuary
.
An estuary is a place where an oceans salt water mixes with the fresh water from rivers and the land. Approximately 11,000 years ago the site of the Long Island Sound was a glacial lake. This glacial lake began to overflow the moraine dam. The force of the flood cut a deep gorge and drained the lake across the coastal plain into the ocean. Due to the warming of the global climate, the ice caps and glaciers melt, returning water to the ocean and raising the sea level. About 8,000 years ago the rising sea level drowns the basin left by the drainage of the Glacial Lake Connecticut and starts the formation of Long Island Sound. However, in the past 100 years the sea level has risen only 25 cm. Another result of the rise in sea level was the creation of many salt marshes. These marshes, as well as the Sound, provide the area with a wealth of life. The area abounds with fish, plant life, shellfish, and waterfowl. The Sound provides recreational and commercial value to the area. Nearly 8.5 million people live along the Long Island Sound watershed. Many of these rely directly on the Sound for prosperity, and many for just plain fun.