Geology topics
Research about Florida
Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Florida.
Survival of Florida Bay fish tagged with internally anchored Spaghetti tags
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The ecology of hydric hammocks: a community profile
This community profile is one in a series of Fish and Wildlife Service publications compiled to provide a state-of-knowledge synthesis of scientific information and literature on various coastal habitats. The subject of this profile is the hydric hammock, a distinctive type of forested wetland occurring at low elevations along the gulf coast of Florida from Aripeka to St. Marks and at various inland sites in Florida. Relatively little research has been conducted in hydric hammocks, and no thorough effort has been made previously to define this community. Consequently, no consensus has existed about the extent and nature of this community; some published works and active researchers have differed in their judgments about it; and the entity sometimes is ignored and often is lumped with other types of mixed hardwood forests. The purpose of this profile is to establish or clarify an identification and understanding of the hydric-hammock community. Information for the profile was gathered from published and unpublished literature, from persona 1 communication with many technical experts, and from our own fie 1 d experience. The profile includes some new data gathered in the field for the purpose of defining this community. It is hoped that the content and format of the profile will be useful to a broad spectrum of users, including other scientists, students, resource managers and planners, teachers, and interested citizens. The profile includes structural and functional aspects of the community: its physical setting, plant and animal composition and dynamics, interactions of its flora and fauna, and its relationships with other communities.
Accumulation and bioconcentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a nearshore estuarine environment near a Pensacola (Florida) creosote contamination site
Long-term accumulation of creosote wastes at a wood-preserving facility near Pensacola, Florida, has produced high levels of organic contamination of groundwaters near Pensacola Bay. Impacts of this contamination on the nearshore environment of the bay were examined by analysis of water, sediment and tissues of two mollusc species. One of the species (Thais haemastoma) was native to the study area. Individuals of the other test species (Crassostrea virginica) were placed in cages at the test sites for a 6-week period. Contamination at the nearshore estuarine sites was assessed by comparison to a control site in an uncontaminated area of the bay, as well as a small stream which forms a direct surface-water link between the creosote storage ponds and the bay. The study focused on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), the primary components of creosote. Very little PAH in water or in the surface layer of estuarine sediments was detected, despite heavy pollution of the stream sediments. This is attributed to various degradation processes which attack the PAH compounds once they discharge into the estuary, and to the likelihood of intermittent and localised release of contaminants to the estuary. Examination of sediment cores and mollusc tissues, which provide a record integrated over time and space, revealed some accumulation of a few PAH, notably fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and phenanthrene. In the sediments, the highest concentrations of these compounds appeared below the surface, within a depth range of 8-13 cm. Bioaccumulation of fluoranthene, pyrene and phenanthrene in both mollusc species was up to ten times greater at test sites than at the control site. This contrasts with naphthalene, the bioaccumulation of which was no greater at test sites than at the control site. These differences in bioaccumulation factors relate to structural chemistry of the compounds which control their solubility, bioavailability, susceptibility to degradation and capacity for depuration by the organism.Long-term accumulation of creosote wastes at a wood-preserving facility near Pensacola, Florida, has produced high levels of organic contamination of groundwaters near Pensacola Bay. Impacts of this contamination on the nearshore environment of the bay were examined by analysis of water, sediment and tissues of two mollusc species. Very little PAH in water or in the surface layer of estuarine sediments was detected, despite heavy pollution of the stream sediments. This is attributed to various degradation processes which attack the PAH compounds once they discharge into the estuary, and to the likelihood of intermittent and localized release of contaminants to the estuary. There was some accumulation of a few PAH, notably fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene and phenanthrene. In the sediments, the highest concentrations of these compounds appeared below the surface, within a depth range of 8-13 cm. Bioaccumulation of fluoranthene, pyrene and phenanthrene in both mollusc species was up to ten times greater at test sites than at the control site. Differences in bioaccumulation factors relate to structural chemistry of the compounds which control their solubility, bioavailability, susceptibility to degradation and capacity for depuration by the organism.
Carbonate to siliciclastic periplatform sediments: southwest Florida
Three distinct carbonate deposits have been identified on the slope and adjacent sea floor of the southwestern Florida Platform: (1) reef talus, recognized by shape and location, found on the upper slope of the Yucatan Channel and also east of the Marquesas Keys; (2) hemipelagic sediments, with complex sigmoid-oblique bed forms, filling the intervening gap between the channel and Keys and forming two lobes on the floor of the northern Florida Straits; and (3) turbidite deposits, with chaotic internal bed forms, covering siliciclastic Mississippi Fan sediments at the base of the canyons in the Florida escarpment. The source of the talus, eroded and transported during the many storms that frequent the region, is the reef complexes that have formed on the platform rim. The sediment of the other two deposits is of foraminiferal tests, produced in nutrient-rich waters at the shelf edge. This sediment is deposited on the outer shelf and is vigorously transported southward, as evidenced by 5 m high asymmetric sand waves. Geophysical, geochemical, and sedimentological data suggest that the spatial relationships of these deposits are related to sea-level variations. During extreme lowstands, with much of the shelf exposed, the dominant sedimentation was in the form of siliciclastic deposition on the abyssal floor, and slope talus development at the edge of the shelf. During a subsequent rise in sea level, after carbonate production on the shelf was initiated, sediment was transported southward to the head of the canyons and funneled to the abyssal floor. Subsequent rising sea level shifted the axis of transport farther to the shelf, bypassing the canyons and funneling the sediment through breaks in the carbonate reef banks at the southern edge of the platform. At the sites of both the hemipelagic and the turbidite deposition, high-resolution seismic data indicate that at least three cycles of deposition have occurred. In the abyss, this cyclic nature has produced alternating layers of carbonate and noncarbonate sediments, recognizable in the sedimentary record as limestone units interlayered with fine shales. In the geologic record the hemipelagic deposits would be almost indistinguishable from deep-sea foraminiferal oozes.
Land use, water use, streamflow, and water-quality characteristics of the Charlotte Harbor inflow area, Florida
Charlotte Harbor is a 270-square-mile estuarine system in west-central Florida. It is being subjected to increasing environmental stress by rapid population growth and development. Population in the inflow area may double by the year 2020, resulting in increased demands for freshwater and increased waste loads. The Myakka, Peace, and Caloosahatchee Rivers are the major rivers emptying into the harbor. About 70 percent of the land in these three river basins is composed of agricultural land and rangeland. In the coastal basin around Charlotte Harbor, about 50 percent of the total land area is devoted to commercial or residential uses. Water use in the inflow area is about 565 million gallons per day, of which 59 percent is used for irrigation, 26 percent for industry, 11 percent for public supply, and 4 percent for rural supply. Total freshwater inflow from the three major rivers, the coastal area, and rainfall directly onto Charlotte Harbor averages between 5,700 and 6,100 cubic feet per second, which is more than 3,500 million gallons per day. A trend analysis of about 50 years of streamflow data shows a statistically significant decreasing trend for the Peace River stations at Bartow, Zolfo Springs, and Arcadia. There is no significant trend in the Myakka or Caloosahatchee River data. In the Peace River, the decrease in flow may be related to a long-term decline in the potentiometric surface of the underlying Floridan aquifer system, which resulted from ground-water withdrawals. It is not possible to determine whether the trend will continue. But if the trend does continue at the same rate, except for brief periods of storm runoff, the Peace River at Zolfo Springs could be dry year-round in about 100 years. There are 114 facilities permitted to discharge domestic or industrial effluent to waters tributary to Charlotte Harbor, of which 88 are in the Peace River basin. Phosphate-ore and citrus processing account for most of the industrial effluent. Several locations in the headwaters of the Peace River have been significantly affected as a result of receiving wastewater effluent. The Peace, Myakka, and Caloosahatchee Rivers transport more than 2,000 tons per day of dissolved solids, more than 17 tons per day of nitrogen, and about 6 tons per day of phosphorus. By the year 2020, the population in the inflow area is expected to increase by more than 500,000 people, which will require an additional 76 million gallons per day for water supply. The increased population will produce an additional 60 million gallons per day of domestic wastewater resulting in an additional 3 tons per day of nitrogen and 0.65 ton per day of phosphorus. More than 150 square miles of land will be converted to urban uses, producing another 0.25 ton per day of nitrogen from urban runoff. These increased nutrient loads can be expected to occur concurrently with decreased freshwater inflow.
Potentiometric surface of the intermediate aquifer system, west-central Florida, May 1987
The intermediate aquifer system within the Southwest Florida Water Management District underlies a 5,000 sq mi area of De Soto, Sarasota, Hardee, Manatee, and parts of Charlotte, Hillsborough, Highlands, and Polk Counties. The intermediate aquifer system occurs between the overlying surficial aquifer system and the underlying Floridan aquifer system, and consists of layers of sand, shell, clay, marl, limestone, and dolom of the Tamiami, Hawthorn, and Tampa Formations of late Tertiary age. The intermediate aquifer system contains one or more water-bearing units separated by discontinuous confining units. This aquifer system is the principal source of potable water in the southwestern part of the study area and is widely used as a source of water in other parts where wells are open to the intermediate aquifer system or to both the intermediate and Floridan aquifer systems. Yields of individual wells open to the intermediate aquifer system range from a few gallons to several hundred gallons per minute. The volume of water withdrawn from the intermediate aquifer system is considerably less than that withdrawn from the Floridan aquifer system in the study area. The surface was mapped by determining the altitude of water levels in a network of wells and is represented on maps by contours that connect points of equal altitude. The compos potentiometric surface of all water-bearing units within the intermediate aquifer system is shown. In areas where multiple aquifers exist, wells open to all aquifers were selected for water level measurements whenever possible. In the southwestern and lower coastal region of the study area, two aquifers and confining units are described for the intermediate aquifer system: the Tamiami-upper Hawthorn aquifer and the underlying lower Hawthorn-upper Tampa aquifer. The potentiometric surface of the Tamiami-upper Hawthorn aquifer is also shown. Water levels are from wells drilled and open exclusively to that aquifer. The exact boundary for the Tamiami-upper Hawthorn aquifer is undetermined because of limd geohydrologic data available from wells.
Structure and stratigraphy of the western Florida shelf; Part I, Multichannel reflection seismic data
This paper presents a synthesis of multichannel seismic data on the Western Florida shelf (Fig. 1). This work is part of an ongoing regional program conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in studying the Exclusive Economic Zones of the United States. The data include 1270 km of 32-fold, common-depth-point (CDP), reflection seismic line obtained with a 3200 m, 64 channel, hydrophone streamer and a 2000 in 3 airgun array. The rationale for the line layout was to tie eight key exploration wells among the 14 existing in federal waters prior to 1980 to 4 key wells in Florida. An attempt was also made to connect our survey with that of the University of Texas Institute of Geophysics in the deep Gulf of Mexico basin. A second set of 1500 km of 24-fold CDP data were collected using a 1200 m, 24-channel streamer and a 550 in 3 airgun source. This set was intended to tie additional wells, drilled between 1979 and 1983, and to infill our original net. Gravity and magnetic measurements were also made along these lines. Our subsurface information in federal waters consists of well logs and files released to us initially by the Conservation Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and subsequently by the U.S. Minerals Management Service. Most information from wells in state waters was provided by the Florida Geological Survey. Table 1 lists wells included in our study and summarizes the types of logs and other information available from each well. Spontaneous potential or gamma ray, resistivity or conductivity, sonic and density logs were generally available. Lithologic information, paleontologic and log picks on stratigraphic units and dip-meter data were also common. Check shot surveys for velocity analysis were available in three wells.
Potentiometric surface of the upper Floridan Aquifer in the St. Johns River Water Management District and vicinity, Florida, May 1988
This map shows the potentiometric surface of the Upper Floridan aquifer in the St. Johns River Water Management District and vicinity, for May 1988. The Upper Floridan aquifer is the principal source of potable water in the area. Water level measurements were made on approximately 1,000 wells and on several springs. The potentiometric surface is shown mostly by 5-foot contour intervals. In the Fernandina Beach area of Nassau County, a 30-foot interval is used to show a deep cone of depression. The potentiometric surface ranged from 127 ft above sea level in Polk County to 79 ft below sea level in Nassau County. Water levels in many key wells were about the May average. Most levels in the district were below the levels of May 1987. Declines of about a foot or less from May 1987 levels were common along the coast, but inland, the potentiometric surface declined as much as 2 to 6 ft in places.
Direct-current resistivity data from 94 sites in northeastern Palm Beach County, Florida
Direct-current resistivity data were collected from 94 vertical electric sounding profiles in northeastern Palm Beach County, Florida. Direct-current resistivity data, which may be used to determine the location and thicknesses of shallow, semipermeable marls or locate zones of high chloride concentration, are presented in this report. The resistivity data consist of field data, smoothed data, layer resistivity from smoothed data, and Cartesian graphs of resistivity in relation to depth for 94 sites located in northeastern Palm Beach County. (USGS)
Water resources data for Florida, water year 1986. Volume 2A. South Florida surface water
Water resources data for the 1986 water year in Florida consists of continuous or daily discharge for 277 streams, periodic discharge for 38 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 34 streams, continuous or daily stage for 77 streams, periodic stage for 20 streams, peak discharge for 88 streams and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 69 lakes, periodic elevations for 72 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for476 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 1,226 wells, and miscellaneous water level measurements for 1,570 wells; quality of water data for 188 surface-water sites and 878 wells. The data for south Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 71 streams, periodic discharge for 5 streams, peak discharge for 2 streams, continuous or daily stage for 23 streams, periodic stage for 2 stream, peak discharge for 6 streams, and peak stage for 2 streams; continuous elevations for 14 lakes, and periodic elevations for 5 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 198 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 806 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 259 wells; quality-of-water for 38 surface-water sites and 511 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, state and federal agencies in Florida.
Water resources data for Florida, water year 1987. Volume 1A. Northeast Florida - surface water
Water resources data for the 1987 water year in Florida consist of continuous or daily discharge for 320 streams, periodic discharge for 38 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 29 streams, continuous or daily stage for 94 streams, periodic stage for 48 streams, peak discharge for 76 streams, and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 80 lakes, periodic elevations for 74 lakes; continuous groundwater levels for 477 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 562 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 2,886 wells; quality-of-water data for 223 surface-water sites and 900 wells. The data for northeast Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 125 streams, periodic discharge for 15 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 14 streams, continuous or daily stage for 45 streams, periodic stage for 27 streams, peak discharge for 26 streams, and peak stage for 27 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 39 lakes, periodic elevations for 53 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 81 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 150 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 969 wells; quality-of-water data for 59 surface-water sites and 105 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, state and federal agencies in Florida.
Water resources data, Florida, water year 1987. Volume 1B. Northeast Florida - ground water
Water resources data for the 1987 water year in Florida consist of continuous or daily discharge for 320 streams, periodic discharge for 38 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 29 streams, continuous or daily stage for 94 streams, periodic stage for 48 streams, peak discharge for 76 streams, and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 80 lakes, periodic elevations for 74 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 477 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 562 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 2,886 wells; quality-of-water data for 223 surface-water sites and 900 wells. The data for northeast Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 125 streams, periodic discharge for 15 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 14 streams, continuous or daily stage for 45 streams, periodic stage for 27 streams, peak discharge for 26 streams, and peak stage for 27 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 39 lakes, periodic elevations for 53 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 81 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 150 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 969 wells; quality-of-water data for 59 surface-water sites and 105 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, state and federal agencies in Florida.
Water resources data, Florida, water year 1987. Volume 2A: South Florida - surface water
Water resources data for the 1987 water year in Florida consists of continuous or daily discharge for 320 streams, periodic discharge for 36 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 29 streams; continuous or daily stage for 94 streams, periodic stage for 48 streams, peak discharge for 76 streams and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 80 lakes, periodic elevations for 74 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 477 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 562 wells, and miscellaneous water level measurements for 2,886 wells; quality of water data for 223 surface-water sites and 900 wells. The data for South Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 47 streams, periodic discharge for 2 streams, peak discharge for 4 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 8 streams, continuous or daily stage for 63 streams, periodic stage for 16 streams, peak discharge for 3 streams, and peak stage for 12 streams; continuous elevations for 1 lake, and periodic elevations for 5 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 169 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 213 wells, and miscellaneous water level measurements for 388 wells; quality-of-water for 10 surface-water sites and 521 wells. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, state and federal agencies in Florida.
Water resources data for Florida, water year 1987. Volume 2B. South Florida ground water
Water resources data for the 1987 water year in Florida consists of continuous or daily discharge for 320 streams, periodic discharge for 38 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 29 streams, continuous or daily stage for 94 streams, periodic stage for 48 streams, peak discharge for 76 streams and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous or daily elevations for 80 lakes, periodic elevations for 74 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 477 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 562 wells, and miscellaneous water level measurements for 2,886 wells; quality of water data for 223 surface-water sites and 900 wells. The data for South Florida include continuous or daily discharge for 47 streams, periodic discharge for 2 streams, peak discharge for 4 streams, continuous or daily stage for 63 streams, periodic stage for 16,streams, peak discharge for 3 streams, and peak stage for 12 streams; continuous elevations for 1 lake, and periodic elevations for 5 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 169 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 213 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 388 wells; quality-of-water for 10 surface-water sites and 521 wells. This data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperation local, state and federal agencies in Florida.
Water resources data for Florida, water year 1987. Volume 3A. Southwest Florida-surface water
Water resources data for the 1987 water year in Florida consist of continuous or daily discharge for 320 streams, periodic discharge for 38 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 29 streams, continuous or daily stage for 94 streams, periodic stage for 48 streams, peak discharge for 76 streams and peak stage for 69 streams; continuous. Or daily elevations for 80 lakes, periodic elevations for 74 lakes; continuous ground-water levels for 477 wells, periodic ground-water levels for 562 wells, and miscellaneous water-level measurements for 2886 wells; quality-of-water data for 223 surface-water sites and 900 wells. The data for southwest Florida include records of stage, discharge and water quality of streams; stage, contents, water quality of lakes and reservoirs, and water levels and water quality of ground-water wells. Volume 3A contains continuous or daily discharge for 61 streams, periodic discharge for 5 streams, miscellaneous discharge for 4 streams, continuous daily stage for 22 streams, periodic stage for 2 streams, peak discharge for 16 streams, continuous daily tide stage for 10 sites, continuous elevation for 22 lakes and periodic elevation for 16 lakes, and quality-of-water for 80 surface-water sites. These data represent the National Water Data System records collected by the U. S. Geological Survey and cooperating local, state, and federal agencies in Florida.