ClimateSeptember 3, 2026

saltpans

SAWLT-panz

Definition

Shallow, artificial basins or areas used for the production of salt by evaporation, which can also provide unique habitats for certain bird species.

Etymology

Derived from the combination of the Old English 'sealt' (salt) and 'panne' (pan), referring to the shallow vessels used for salt evaporation.

In the news

The article references man-made saltpans in China as a comparison point, noting that while they provide nesting ground for birds, they can also become fragile habitats susceptible to flooding.

The Netherlands dredged 30 million cubic metres of sand, clay and silt from the bottom of a shallow lake and shaped it into 5 low islands; by 2020, a gull-billed tern chick had hatched there, after only one Dutch breeding case had been recorded since 1958

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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