Natural and Anthropogenic Events Impacting Florida Bay, 1910-1994 Time Line.

摘要

Florida Bay is a coastal lagoon, on average less than 3 m deep, approximately 1,000 square miles in area, located between the South Florida mainland and the Florida Keys. In recent years, adverse environmental changes have been noted in the Bay. Currenly, a multi-agency multi-year effort is underway to restore the ecosystem of South Florida, including that of Florida Bay. To assist in determining the Bay's former condition and to catalogue changes, events that may have affected or have occurred in the Bay are described, listed and graphically displayed in a common time scale. Included are global scale atmospheric, geological and astronomical phenomena such as El Nino events, volcanic eruptions and solar activity that may affect local weather. Awareness of the environmental importance of the Bay is documented in legislation affecting environmental regulations nationwide and in the Bay area; and environmental programs and studies performed currently and in the past by Federal, state, municipal, academic and civic organizations.