hypersalinity
Hypersalinity refers to water bodies whose salt concentration significantly exceeds that of normal seawater (about 35 practical salinity units, PSU). It is a relative term without a single universal cutoff; many studies describe waters with salinities above 40–50 PSU as hypersaline. Such conditions occur naturally or through human activities and alter the physical, chemical, and biological properties of an aquatic system.
Hypersaline environments form where evaporation exceeds freshwater input, in enclosed basins, salt pans, coastal lagoons with
Biologically, hypersalinity limits biodiversity but supports specialized communities. Halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms (including many Archaea and
Human relevance includes traditional and industrial salt production, impacts on water resources, challenges for desalination and