The coastal waters of South Florida consist of the shelf and the coastal lagoons or semi-enclosed embayments located behind the barrier islands.  The largest embayments, Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay, contain a variety of important marine habitats and support many different animals.  The shelf on the Atlantic side of the Florida Keys is inhabited by the only live coral reefs in the continental U.S.
 
The physical environment in the South Florida coastal waters is a major controlling factor of the existing seascape and the animals that live therein.  In addition to the natural environment, influences from development in the South Florida region to accommodate a large human population also imposes controls on the environment, for example with boating and fishing.
 
Characterization of the temporal and spatial variability of physical parameters such as depths, temperature, salinity, turbidity, and water column currents provides valuable information on important conditions affecting the spectrum of ecosystems found in the coastal waters.  Monitoring data and models are needed to develop a deeper understanding of the response of the system to stress.  Models are also necessary for prediction of the effects of human manipulation and management of the system.
 
We have begun the development of a hydrodynamic model for the entire region by a step-by-step implementation of major subdomains. At the present time we have models for Biscayne Bay, Florida Bay, and part of the Atlantic shelf.  Examples of results from these models are linked to from this site.
 
The model used is a 3-D numerical finite element model solving the dynamically coupled equations of motion and salt transport equation.  A bottom and surface following vertical coordinate (sigma-coordinate) is used.  The model has the ability to simulate flooding and drying of shallow submerged or emergent bottoms.  Forcing consists of tides, wind, runoff, precipitation and evaporation.  The simulations shown have all been performed with the model in a 2-D mode.
 
Biscayne Bay
 
Florida Bay
 
Southeast Florida Shelf