Wild Oceans
This recurring climate pattern, driven by unusually warm surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific, frequently acts as a planetary shield by creating high wind shear that suppresses Atlantic hurricanes.
What is El Niño
Springs best known for its mermaids
What is Weeki Wachee?
This bottom-dweller is known for its sustainability against overfishing, by being able to regrow its arm
What is the Stone Crab?
Description of the effects on the environment of a proposed project or construction, originally part of the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA)
What is an Environmental Impact Statement?
EIS
Permanent, reliable east-to-west prevailing winds that blow across the Earth's tropical and subtropical regions, which also are broken down in the Pacific during phases of El-nino.
What are Trade Winds?
Serving as the dangerous physical baseline for modern hurricanes, the average of this specific global marine metric reached an unprecedented, historic high of 21.1°C over the past year.
What is Sea Surface Temperature (or SST)
Composed of compressed ancient marine shells and corals, this highly porous sedimentary rock acts as the foundational bedrock for Florida's major aquifer systems.
What is Limestone?
This giant bottom-dweller, a favorite of deep-sea Gulf anglers, sharing its name with a biblical person, can reach over 500 pounds and uses its massive mouth to create a vacuum that sucks in crabs and smaller fish.
What is the Goliath Grouper?
Establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface water once known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1948 before being reorganized and expanded.
CWA
Phenomena found within Atlantic basin that include characteristic counter-clockwise winds in excess of 75mph
What is a hurricane?
This specific, rapidly moving ocean current acts as a hyper-potent fuel source for Gulf hurricanes, famously supercharging storms like Katrina and Milton when they cross its deep, warm waters.
The Loop Current
This specific geologic term describes type of rock features that creates sinkholes, caves, and springs, created when mildly acidic rainwater slowly dissolves soluble bedrock.
What is Karst?
This incredibly fast ocean fish is famous for the huge, sail-like fin on its back and its long, pointed sword bill.
What is the Sailfish?
Agency responsible for managing, monitoring, and enforcing environmental quality
What is the Environmental Protection Act?
EPA
Phenomena generated from colliding cool sea breezes filling in from both the gulf and Atlantic during maximum daytime heating over Florida, of which Florida ranks #1 in the US.
What is lightning?
Biologists track this terrifying ocean phenomenon—which occurs when massive algal blooms die, sink, and decay, stripping the water of all breathable oxygen.
What are "Dead Zones?"
First magnitude springs group in Citrus County
Crystal River/Kings Bay
Highly prized, named for its bright, rosy color, this popular and delicious reef fish is one of the most famous fish caught by seafood lovers in the Gulf that continues to be under very strict quotas for recovering populations due to overfishing
What is the Red Snapper?
Primary federal law in the United States established in 1972 to protect imperiled plant and animal species from extinction and recover their populations.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
ESA
Atmospheric phenemona associated with suppressing tropical activity within the Atlantic basin due to El-Nino
What is wind shear?
This devastating wall of water, pushed ashore by a hurricane's fierce winds, historically accounts for the vast majority of storm-related casualties and coastal habitat destruction.
Storm Surge
A cluster of at least 13-14 submarine artesian springs located offshore in the marine estuary of Wakulla County, Florida.
Spring Creek
Often called the "chameleon of the sea," this bizarre pelagic fish is famous for its ability to rapidly flash brilliant neon blues, greens, and yellows when fighting on an angler's line.
What is Mahi Mahi?
This international treaty framework regulates global trade in wild animal and plant specimens to ensure that commercial market demands do not threaten their survival in the wild.
What is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species?
CITES
The metric hurricane forecasters use to describe the strength of tropical systems found within the eye?
What is air pressure?