1825 - 1968 
Thomas, T. T. (1970) A detailed analysis of climatological and hydrological records of 
south Florida with reference to man's influence upon ecosystem evolution. Final Rep. to the 
NPS. Contr. DI-NPS-14-10-1-160-18. Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric 
Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL. 89 pp. 
An attempt has been made to summarize the historical climatological records of 
southern Florida, south of latitude 29° N. Rainfall and temperature records were 
obtained for 157 stations within this region. The records covered the period from 1825 
to 1968. Calculations determined that a minimum of seven years data per station was 
required to obtain statistically valid monthly and annual averages, but that the 10 - 15 
yrs, suggested by Sass were more suitable. Using monthly and annual averages 
calculated for 119 stations, many of which dated prior to 1900 synoptic maps, were 
constructed displaying the geographical distribution of these two climatic variables. 
From statistical inference, i.e. averages, standard deviations and coefficients of 
variation, areas with similar characteristics were isolated and reduced to a single 
monthly time series record varying from 50 to 70 yrs in length and analyzed for 
evidence of long term changes as well as cyclical behavior. This analysis suggests that 
no long term changes have occurred when independently considering all the Januarys, 
Februarys, Marches, etc., but that from a standpoint of a linear record by month, by 
years a bi-annual component appears as well as one in the proximity of five years. This 
five year component seems to be most pronounced in the area along the eastern coastal 
ridge, disappearing in areas west and north-west of it. The results of this analysis are 
considered with respect to changes in the elevation of the freshwater table due to 
man's influence, the natural rise in sea level due to deglaciation, and the mechanism 
effecting changes in estuarine and near shore salinities. 
1879 - 1977 
Schmidt, T. W., and G. E. Davis (1978) A summary of estuarine and marine water quality 
information collected in Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Monument, and 
adjacent estuaries from 1879 to 1977. Rep. T-519. US National Park Service, Everglades 
National Park, Homestead, FL. 59 pp. 
For the purposes of this report, the South Florida area was divided into four drainage 
systems based on climate, physiography, freshwater runoff-salinity dilution dynamics, 
and the influence of man: (1) Big Cypress, (2) Everglades, (3) Taylor Slough, and the 
(4) Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Ridge. The estuaries and coastal waters were divided 
into six zones based on physiography and watershed: (1) Big Cypress estuary, (2) 
Everglades estuary, (3) Florida Bay, (4) Barnes Sound, and Card Sound, (5) southern 
Biscayne Bay, and (6) northern coral reef tract. The central Everglades drainage 
comprises over three-fourths of the region upstream from Whitewater Bay and the 
southeastern Gulf of Mexico estuaries. To the west and east, the Big Cypress and 
Taylor Slough watersheds flow into the Big Cypress estuaries and Florida Bay 
respectively. These three estuaries are each approximately 1,000 km in size. The 
remaining watershed southeast of the Atlantic Coastal Ridge influences the much 
smaller systems of Card-Barnes Sounds, southern Biscayne Bay, and to a lesser 
extent, the northern coral reef track east of the upper Florida Keys. To protect and 
perpetuate the biotic communities in these aquatic ecosystems in a natural state, it is 
necessary to be able to evaluate the effects of watershed management on the estuaries 
and to detect contamination from adjacent systems. A comprehensive water quality 
monitoring system is needed to provide the information to make such evaluations. This 
report summarizes many published and unpublished reports of water quality 
information in Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Monument, and adjacent 
estuaries as the first step in the design, development, and implementation of a 
comprehensive monitoring system. Most of these data were collected in conjunction 
with short-term multi-disciplinary investigations. A total of 55 hydrographic studies 
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