Few people realize that atmospheric currents also play a very significant role in sedimentation. Sandstorms in Africa cause so-called dust intrution, which tranports dust (that becomes nutritive sediment), because of the rotation of the Earth, all along the eastern coast of the Americas. This feeds coastal wetland ecosystems (like in the US) but is also well known for bringing nutrients into the Amazom basin, meaning that the most amazing Amazon basin rainforest wouldn't be what it is without sandstorms occurring in "seamingly" desolate places in Africa.

When it comes to runoff, the tides and currents are a big factor. Oftentimes with runoff, you will notice cloudier water as the tide is coming in, which is because the incoming tide "pins" the sediment laden runoff water to the coast. With an outgoing tide, the water will generally be much clearer.

But, the ecosystem of the specific coastal area can have a big impact on water clarity as well. This is because significant ecosystems, like well-developed coral reef systems have a substantial effect on water clarity because of dense filter-feeder populations.

In a very global way, water clarity is also affected by currents which are subject to the rotation of the Earth…but that explanation, we'll thankfully leave for another day.

But if you look at satellite photography, it's very easy to see that the watershed of major rivers (the alluvial fan, so to speak) is always cloudy.

Cheers! Love you guys.

That is why atolls, like the Tuamotus, have crystal-clear water: because they are so low in elevation that runoff cannot accelerate and effect erosion.

When a pre-columbian Maya or Aztec used the word "sacrificial," it meant something totally different. 😀