Reef Distribution in South Florida
Marszalek DS, Babashoff, Jr. G, Noel MR, Worley DR. 1977. Reef Distribution in South Florida. Pages 223 - 229. In Proceedings, Third International Coral Reef Symposium. Miami, FL. 1977. Proceedings of the International Coral Reef Symposium
The Florida Reef Tract contains approximately 96 km (kilometers) of outer bank reefs along the shallow shelf edge and more than 6000 patch reefs in the inner lagoon. Most reefs are located in the upper Keys seaward of Elliot Key and Key Largo Key. Patch reefs are extremely rare in the middle Keys although outer bank reefs are occasionally developed along the platform edge. Outer bank reef and patch reef development increases in the lower Keys between Big Pine Key and Dry Tortugas. Reef distribution is controlled mainly by factors affecting exchange between the Reef Tract and coastal lagoons and Florida Bay. Of primary importance are: relative development of land barriers and tidal passes; orientation of the Reef Tract in relation to wind-driven winter currents; and exposure to Loop Current water and the effects of the Loop Current on local circulation.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Marszalek, D; Babashoff, Jr., G; Noel, M; Worley, D
- Units
- SFCN
- Keywords
- amount, Circulation, Collection, Density, region, Water Flow