A 1-foot sea-level rise since 1850 may have increased the depth of Florida Bay, with an accompanying increase in water exchange with the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. However, recent data indicate restricted rather than enhanced exchange with these adjacent water bodies perhaps as a result of local rapid sedimentation. Some portions of mudbanks are accreting at about 0.5 in/yr, much faster than sea level rise this century (average about 0.1 in/yr). The relationship between salinity contours and mudbanks illustrates the influence of bathymetry on circulation. The USGS is integrating existing and planned turbidity and sediment studies to develop a sediment budget and to evaluate the effect of sea-level rise, storms, and sedimentation on circulation and nutrient supply in the Bay.

Raw data are provided as ASCII text files.

2001

April Surface Salinity PDF | ASCII	June Surface Salinity PDF | ASCII
August Surface Salinity PDF | ASCII	November Surface Salinity PDF | ASCII
December Surface Salinity PDF | ASCII

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