Gulf of Mexico

Estuaries are a critical interface between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Gulf of Mexico estuaries encompass approximately 30,000 sq. km. (42% of the total estuarine surface area of the U.S. excluding Alaska). The key to understanding complex estuarine systems lies in understanding the interactions between geological framework and biological, geochemical, and hydrological processes. This site brings together data for assessing and monitoring Gulf of Mexico estuaries.