TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Page 



LIST OF FIGURES XV1X 



LIST OF TABLES xxxi 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xlii 



Volume 1 



CHAPTER 1: ORGANIZATION OF THE CHARACTERIZATION 1-1 



THE ECOSYSTEM LEVEL 1-2 



THE SYSTEM LEVEL 1-2 



Energy flow 1-2 



Biogeochemical cycling 1-8 



Biota 1-13 



Abiota 1-14 



THE SPECIES POPULATION 1-15 



ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION 1-15 



REFERENCES 1-17 



CHAPTER 2: THE COASTAL MAINE ECOSYSTEM 2-1 



GEOGRAPHY 2-1 



Region 1 2-3 



Region 2 2-3 



Region 3 2-4 



Region 4 2-4 



Region 5 2-4 



Region 6 2-9 



FORCING FUNCTIONS 2-9 



Climate 2-9 



Monthly mean temperature 2-13 



Monthly mean precipitation 2-14 



Cloud occurrence 2-14 



Evaporation and relative humidity 2-14 



Surface winds 2-22 



Fog 2-23 



Snow 2-23 



Freeze penetration and the growing season 2-28 



River and harbor ice 2-31 



Storm occurrences 2-34 



Geology 2-34 



General physiography: bedrock control of 



the coastal platform 2-37 



Pleistocene glaciation, deglaciation, and 



associated deposits 2-39 



Holocene sea level rise 2-41 



Erosion and sedimentation 2-41 



Shoreline erosion 2-42 



Surficial geology and soils 2-45 



Hydrology 2-49 



ii 



10-80 



