Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Chérubin, Laurent

Abstract

Understanding and resolving the water quality problems that Florida Bay has endured requires an understanding of its salinity drivers. Because salinity is the prime factor that drives estuarine ecosystem, Florida Bay’s ecosystem health depends on the correct salinity balance of the Bay. In this thesis, the Regional Oceanic Modeling System - a hydrodynamic prognostic model -was implemented on Florida Bay and it was tailored for shallow waters. Results show that the model captures most of the salinity spatial and temporal variability of Florida Bay. Furthermore, it establishes the role of the major drivers like evaporation, precipitation, and runoff on Florida Bay’s salinity. The model resolves region specific salinity drivers in all four areas of Florida Bay characterized by their own salinity regimes. The model was also able to reveal the impact of surface runoff on salinity in the later part of the year when evaporation increases. A new technique was developed to estimate the discharge and salinity of unmonitored small creeks north of Florida Bay. Those data were estimated from the relationship between net freshwater flux, runoff, and salinity. Model results revealed the importance of accounting for these small creeks to accurately simulate Florida Bay’s salinity.

Extent

97 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00005996

Format

pdf

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