In neritic (shallow, nearshore/continental shelf) waters, the euphotic (photic) depth, the depth to which sufficient light penetrates to support net photosynthesis, is strongly reduced compared to open ocean waters primarily due to the presence of suspended and dissolved mineral/terrigenous material (turbidity) delivered by river runoff and coastal erosion, which scatters and absorbs light, limiting its penetration far more than dissolved gases or other dissolved chemical constituents.
Neritic waters, being close to shore and influenced by river discharge, coastal erosion, resuspension of bottom sediments, and terrestrial runoff, typically carry substantially higher concentrations...
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