Alternative Text Description for Tide Stations (NOAA)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of NOAA CO-OPS tide stations throughout Florida and along portions of the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast. The tide stations are represented as individual point locations that form a near-continuous network following Florida's extensive coastline. The map illustrates the comprehensive coastal monitoring infrastructure maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for measuring tidal data and datum information across the state's marine boundaries.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the state of Florida and adjacent coastal areas extending into Georgia, Alabama, and the Florida Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville on the northeast coast, Orlando in the central interior, Tampa on the west coast, Cape Coral on the southwest coast, and Miami on the southeast coast. Additional cities visible include Tallahassee in the north, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Lakeland in central Florida, and smaller coastal communities such as Palm Coast, Melbourne, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Coral Springs. The map extends northward to show portions of southern Georgia including Albany, Valdosta, and Dothan, Alabama. The coastline depicted includes Florida's Atlantic shore, the Florida Keys island chain, the Gulf of America coastline, and the Florida Panhandle region.

KEY INSIGHTS

The tide stations form a dense, continuous linear pattern that closely follows Florida's entire coastline perimeter. The distribution reveals particularly high concentrations of monitoring stations in several key areas: the northwest Panhandle coast, the area around Jacksonville on the northeast coast, the Tampa Bay region, the southwest Gulf of America coast including Cape Coral and Fort Myers areas, and the entire chain of the Florida Keys extending from mainland Florida to Key West. The Atlantic coast from Jacksonville southward through Miami shows consistent station spacing along the shoreline. There is a notable absence of stations in Florida's interior regions, confirming the exclusive focus on coastal and tidal monitoring. The pattern demonstrates a systematic approach to coastal coverage, with stations positioned to capture tidal variations along the state's complex and geographically diverse shoreline spanning approximately 1,350 miles.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Tide Stations (NOAA)

This layer represents the locations of operational NOAA tide monitoring stations that collect tidal measurements and datum information along Florida's coastal waters.

Tide Station Point Locations (red teardrop markers)

Appearance:

Red teardrop-shaped point markers with the characteristic inverted pin design

Distribution:

Distributed continuously along the entire Florida coastline including the Atlantic coast, Gulf of America coast, Florida Panhandle, and the Florida Keys

Notable locations:

High concentrations appear in the northwest Panhandle region, around Jacksonville, throughout Tampa Bay, along the southwest Gulf coast near Cape Coral, around Miami and the southeast coast, and densely distributed throughout the entire Florida Keys archipelago

Spatial patterns:

The stations form an unbroken linear arrangement following the precise shape of Florida's coastline, with spacing that appears relatively regular along most coastal segments. Clusters occur in areas with complex coastal geometry such as bays, estuaries, and island chains. No stations appear inland, maintaining strict adherence to tidal and coastal waters.

Overlapping Patterns

In areas with complex coastal features such as Tampa Bay, Jacksonville's estuarine system, and the Florida Keys, multiple stations are positioned in close proximity to capture localized tidal variations within harbors, channels, and between islands.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a single thematic layer showing only the tide station locations without additional base map features beyond city labels and basic geographic reference. The density and distribution of stations reflect NOAA's comprehensive approach to monitoring tidal conditions throughout Florida's diverse coastal environments, including open ocean coasts, protected bays, barrier islands, and the unique island chain of the Florida Keys. Users should note that this map shows station locations but does not convey information about individual station characteristics, operational status, or the specific tidal measurements collected at each site.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data was obtained from the NOAA CO-OPS (Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services) Metadata API, which provides authoritative information on tide station locations and associated datum information maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Data source layer name: NOAA_TIDE_STATIONS_NOV24

Definition Query:

The layer displays tide stations specifically filtered to show only those located within Florida's coastal boundaries (NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers projection area).

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a state-wide scale appropriate for viewing the entire network of Florida tide stations and understanding their regional distribution patterns along the coastline.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

Data reflects tide station locations as of November 2024.

Limitations:

The map shows station locations only and does not indicate operational status, data quality, station type, or the specific tidal datums measured at each location. Some stations may be temporarily offline or undergoing maintenance. The map does not distinguish between different station types or monitoring capabilities.

Map Coverage:

The map extent covers the entire state of Florida and immediate adjacent coastal waters, extending into southern Georgia and Alabama to provide geographic context. The northern boundary includes portions of the Florida Panhandle coastal region, while the southern extent captures the entire Florida Keys chain.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.