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1a. Accurately characterize the contemporary and historical landscapes of the region by means of geospatial data sets including bathymetry and topography, transportation, hydrologic features, land use/land cover, urban extent, areas excluded from potential development. Use these data sets to generate seamless GIS coverages for significant historical dates that will serve as basic components of a georectified spatial database. This database will be used by all other tasks of the Tampa Bay study for such applications as development of sampling strategies, assessing the impact of elevation on estuarine processes, and as input to process models. Critical Science Gaps IA, IB, IC, ID, IE, IF, and IG.
1b. Characterize and model the process of urbanization in the Tampa Bay watershed and investigate its impact on seagrass and wetland distribution, landuse/land cover, surface runoff and water quality, the creation of heat islands and attendant impacts, resource accessibility and consumption, and environmental implications. The modeling timeframe will extend from 1940 to 2025 to provide a predictive tool for future status of the region. Critical Science Gaps IF, IE, and IG.
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