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Figure 24. Graph shows five-month plot of water-level fluctuations in Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean (from Reich et al., 2002). Bay tides are meteorologically driven and fluctuate due to changes in wind forcing. Ocean tides are astronomically driven and semi-diurnal. Average bay-water level is ~12 to 15 cm higher than that of the ocean. This difference creates a drive for seaward cross-key groundwater flow. Water-level data are referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).

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Coastal & Marine Geology Program > Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies > Professional Paper 1751