Which term describes water that is salty, but not as salty as seawater?

• A. Brackish water
• B. Bund
• C. Burner
• D. Bycatch

Answer: (A)

Water that is salty but not as salty as seawater is brackish water. It comes from mixing freshwater with seawater, so its salinity sits between freshwater and seawater. Brackish environments occur in places like estuaries where rivers meet the sea, or in coastal lagoons and mangrove areas. Its salinity is typically around 0.5 to 30 parts per thousand, compared with seawater at about 35 ppt. This intermediate salinity shapes which plants and animals can live there and how the water can be used. The other terms—bund, burner, and bycatch—don’t describe salinity: a bund is a protective barrier, a burner isn’t related, and bycatch refers to non-target species caught in fishing.