Figure 9. Detailed energy model of Hillsborough County (Sipe et al . 1979) 



The energy circuit model of Hillsborough County, used as an example in 

 this section, was developed as part of the Energy Basis of the Hillsborough 

 County Project at the Center for Wetlands, University of Florida, sponsored by 

 the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Agency, John F. Alexander, 



simulation model was devel- 

 report by Sipe, Swaney, and 



Jr., and H. T. Odum, principal investigators. The 

 oped as part of the project by Dennis Swaney and 

 McGinty (1979). 



Description of the Region 



Hillsborough County, Florida, near the center of the west coast of Flor- 

 ida, is almost square in shape, about 36 miles along each side. The total 

 area of 1,235 mi2, is slightly larger than that of the State of Rhode Island. 



The county is relatively flat, elevations range from sea level to a high 

 of 49 m (165 ft) in the eastern part of the county. The four principal nat- 

 ural regions of the county are sandhill highlands, inland flatwoods, coastal 

 lowlands, and river valleys. The county has a subtropical climate, mild win- 

 ters (average January temperature, 15°C or 59°F) and wami humid summers (aver- 

 age August temperature, 20°C or 82°F). 



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