COASTAL LAGOONS OF MEXICO THEIR ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION

摘要: The coastal zone of Mexico extends 10,000 kilometers along the borders Pacific, Gulf California, and Caribbean contains approximately 125 lagoons defined here as: “a depression below MHHW, having permanent or ephemeral communication with sea, but protected from sea by some type barrier.” Mexican vary widely in their physical environmental characteristics degree man's use modification. They are geologically classified according to origin barrier I. Differential Erosion (usually drowned valleys includes solution depressions); II. Terrigenous Sedimentation (typically associated fluvial/deltaic systems); III. Barred Inner Shelf (offshore on inner continental shelf); IV. Organic coralgal also mangrove other organisms); V. Tectonic-Volcanic (directly linked faulting, folding, volcan-ism). Many compounds two more basic classes. Interrelating original geomorphic geologic development history, oceanography regional climatology, one may predict major types existing lagoon systems. Brief case studies illustrate main mexican types.