ESTUARIES

Need for a more comprehensive understanding of estuaries and their surroundings and the lack of an adequate means to exchange information concerning estuarine research stimulated the organization of the Conference on Estuaries, held at Jekyll Island, Georgia, from March 31 to April 3, 1964. The objectives were to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between the various disciplines and individuals interested in estuarine research, to summarize the present knowledge of the natural characteristics of estuaries, and to delineate the direction of current research efforts. This book is an outcome of the Conference. The subject matter is broad, and includes aspects of biology, chemistry, geography, geology, and physics. There is as yet no name like oceanography or limnology for estuarine research and its future strength lies, perhaps, in the diversity of disciplines which can contribute to it without the hindrance of established patterns and procedures.