gov.noaa.nodc:0127396 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-05-05T21:07:53Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Estuarine Salinity Zones in US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and US West Coast from 1999-01-01 to 1999-12-31 (NCEI Accession 0127396) 2015-04-22 publication 2015-04-21 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0127396 NCEI Archive Management System 0127396 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher David M. Nelson US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) resourceProvider NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) resourceProvider David M. Nelson US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) pointOfContact Nelson, David M. NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment author tableDigital These unprojected (geographic coordinates) 3-Zone Average Annual Salinity Digital Geographies are based on analysis of long-term salinity data for 147 estuaries of the contiguous United States. Each estuary is subdivided into three zones between the head(s) of tide, and the seaward boundaries based on annual-averaged and depth-averaged salinities. The salinities used to define the three zones are: (1) Tidal Fresh Zone (0 to 0.5 parts per thousand); (2) Mixing Zone (0.5 to 25 parts per thousand); (3) Seawater Zone (25 parts per thousand or greater). This 3-zone scheme is considered static rather than dynamic, because it does not take into account the seasonal variations in salinity patterns and stratification that occur in most estuaries. Nonetheless, it provides a simple and readily understandable way to depict the long-term salinity characteristics of U.S. estuarine waters. Note that not all estuaries contain all three zones - for example, Baffin Bay, Texas, receives relatively little annual freshwater inflow, and is considered to be entirely Seawater Zone. This 3-zone scheme was originally presented in the National Estuarine Inventory (NEI) Data Atlas, Vol. I (NOAA/NOS 1985) for 92 estuaries of the contiguous United States. In the 1990s, digital geographies were refined and many estuaries were added to become a key layer within the Coastal Assessment Framework (NOAA 2007). These 3-Zone Average Annual Salinity Digital Geography have been used for applications in natural resource science and management. They provided the spatial framework and basis for development of NOAA's Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Program (Nelson and Monaco 2000), and also for NOAA's National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment (Bricker et al. 2007). Salinity is one of the key factors affecting the spatial distribution of estuarine species and ecological communities, and because the salinity gradient affects physical estuarine circulation patterns. Estuarine salinity is a dynamic variable, affected by many factors such as freshwater inflow, tidal flow, wind and current-driven mixing, and other physical characteristics. Although this 3-Zone spatial geography does not fully account for the dynamic nature of estuarine salinity, it does describe what would be considered "normal" conditions in each estuary. Funding Agency: US DOC; NOAA; National Ocean Service completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0127396 Preview graphic PNG 0127396 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2015-04-21 publication ANALYSES - ANNUAL SUMMARIES SALINITY theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS GIS product model output theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA National Ocean Service dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coastal Assessment Framework (CAF) Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Gulf of Mexico North Atlantic Ocean North Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NODC > National Oceanographic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NOS > National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Environmental Monitoring Tides and Currents theme NOS Data Explorer Topic Category estuary salinity zones theme Originator Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Alabama Alamitos Bay Albemarle Sound Alsea River Altamaha River Anaheim Bay Apalachee Bay Apalachicola Bay Aransas Bay Atchafalaya/Vermilion Bays Baffin Bay Barataria Bay Barnegat Bay Biscayne Bay Blue Hill Bay Bogue Sound Boston Harbor Brazos River Breton/Chandeleur Sound Broad River Buzzards Bay Calcasieu Lake California Caloosahatchee River Cape Cod Bay Cape Fear River Casco Bay Central San Francisco/San Pablo/Suisun Bays Charleston Harbor Charlotte Harbor Chesapeake Bay Mainstem Chester River Chincoteague Bay Choctawhatchee Bay Choptank River Coastal Columbia River Connecticut Connecticut River Contiguous Coos Bay Coquille River Corpus Christi Bay Coterminous Damariscotta River Delaware Delaware Bay Delaware Inland Bays District of Columbia Drakes Estero Eastern Bay Eel River Elk/Sassafras Rivers Elkhorn Slough Englishman/Machias Bay Estuaries Florida Florida Bay Galveston Bay Georgia Grays Harbor Great Bay Great South Bay Gulf Coast Gulf of Maine Gulf of Mexico Hampton Harbor Honga River Hood Canal Hudson River/Raritan Bay Humboldt Bay Indian River Ingram/Fleets Bays James River Kennebec/Androscoggin Rivers Klamath River Laguna Madre Lake Borgne Lake Pontchartrain Long Island Sound Louisiana Lynnhaven River Maine Maryland Maryland Inland Bays Massachusetts Massachusetts Bay Matagorda Bay Mermentau River Merrimack River Mid-Atlantic Mission Bay Mississippi Mississippi River Mississippi Sound Mobile Bay Monterey Bay Morro Bay Muscongus Bay Narragansett Bay Narraguagus Bay Nehalem River Netarts Bay Neuse River New England New Hampshire New Jersey New Jersey Inland Bays New River New York Newport Bay North Atlantic North Carolina North/South Santee Rivers Oregon Ossabaw Sound Pacific Pacific Ocean Pamlico Sound Pamlico/Pungo Rivers Passamaquoddy/Cobscook Bays Patapsco/Gunpowder Rivers Patuxent River Peconic/Gardiners Bay Pennsylvania Penobscot Bay Pensacola Bay Perdido Bay Piankatank River/Mobjack Bay Plum Island Sound Poquoson/Back Rivers Port Orchard Sound Potomac River Puget Sound Rappahannock River Rhode Island Rogue River Rookery Bay Sabine Lake Saco Bay San Antonio Bay San Diego Bay San Pedro Bay Santa Monica Bay Sarasota Bay Savannah River Severn River Sheepscot Bay Siletz Bay Siuslaw River Skagit Bay/Whidbey Basin South Atlantic South Carolina South Puget Sound South San Francisco Bay Southeast St. Andrew Bay St. Andrew/St. Simons Sounds St. Catherines/Sapelo Sounds St. Helena Sound St. Johns River St. Marys River/Cumberland Sound Stono/North Edisto Rivers Suwannee River Tampa Bay Tangier/Pocomoke Sound Ten Thousand Islands Terrebone/Timbalier Bays Texas Tijuana Estuary Tillamook Bay Tomales Bay Umpqua River United States Virginia Virginia Eastern Shore Waquoit Bay Washington Wells Bay West Coast Willapa Bay Winyah Bay Yaquina Bay York River place Originator Place Names 1999 temporal Originator Temporal Keywords U58WL4 Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Nelson, David M. (2015). Estuarine Salinity Zones in US East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and US West Coast from 1999-01-01 to 1999-12-31 (NCEI Accession 0127396). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0127396. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. United States. National Ocean Service. Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment.; United States. Ocean Assessments Division. Strategic Assessment Branch. 1985. National Estuarine Inventory: Data Atlas. Volume 1: Physical and Hydrologic Characteristics. https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/31438 1985 publication noaa:31438 https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/31438 HTTPS https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/31438 related journal article information United States. National Ocean Service. Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment. author United States. Ocean Assessments Division. Strategic Assessment Branch author documentDigital crossReference Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Stone, Steve; Jury, Steve; Field, John; Lowery, Tony; Williams, Chris; Andreasen, Linda (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Mid-Atlantic Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0162403). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5445jkv. 2017-04-28 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v5445jkv NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0162403 https://doi.org/10.7289/v5445jkv HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v5445jkv ELMR Mid-Atlantic Regional Dataset information Nelson, David Moe US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information author Monaco, Mark author Stone, Steve author Jury, Steve author Field, John author Lowery, Tony author Williams, Chris author Andreasen, Linda author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Jury, Steve; Field, John; Stone, Steve (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: North Atlantic Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0162402). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v57w698t. 2017-04-28 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v57w698t NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0162402 https://doi.org/10.7289/v57w698t HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v57w698t ELMR North Atlantic Regional Dataset information Nelson, David Moe US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information author Monaco, Mark author Jury, Steve author Field, John author Stone, Steve author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark; Emmett, Robert; Hinton, Susan (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: West Coast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0161540). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/v5pg1ptj. 2017-03-31 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.7289/v5pg1ptj NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0161540 https://doi.org/10.7289/v5pg1ptj HTTPS https://doi.org/10.7289/v5pg1ptj ELMR West Coast Regional Dataset information Nelson, David Moe US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information author Monaco, Mark author Emmett, Robert author Hinton, Susan author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Southeast Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163992). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992. 2017-07-21 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0163992 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992 HTTPS https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163992 ELMR Gulf of Mexico Regional Dataset information Nelson, David Moe US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information author Monaco, Mark E. author Coston-Clements, Linda author Settle, Lawrence R. author Irlandi, Elizabeth A. author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Nelson, David Moe; Monaco, Mark E.; Williams, Christopher D.; Czapla, Thomas E.; Pattillo, Mark E.; Coston-Clements, Linda; Settle, Lawrence R.; Irlandi, Elizabeth A. (2017). Estuarine Living Marine Resources: Gulf of Mexico Regional Distribution and Abundance (NCEI Accession 0163993). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163993. 2017-07-21 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0163993 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163993 HTTPS https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163993 ELMR Gulf of Mexico Regional Dataset information Nelson, David Moe US DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information author Monaco, Mark E. author Williams, Christopher D. author Czapla, Thomas E. author Pattillo, Mark E. author Coston-Clements, Linda author Settle, Lawrence R. author Irlandi, Elizabeth A. author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Estuarine Species Database for the NOAA Estuarine Living Marine Resources Program 1985 publication https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/estuarine-species-database-noaa-estuarine-living-marine-resources-program/ HTTPS https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/estuarine-species-database-noaa-estuarine-living-marine-resources-program/ National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) project page information NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) website Institution web page information publisher documentDigital crossReference project eng; USA utf8 environment oceans inlandWaters imageryBaseMapsEarthCover biota -124.5 -66.9 24.8 48.5 1999-01-01 1999-12-31 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. Originator data format 15.776 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0127396 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/127396 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/127396 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0074/0127396/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0127396 v1.1 was published. 2015-04-22T16:52:16Z NCEI Accession 0127396 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0127396/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0127396 v1.1 published 2015-04-22T16:52:16Z download dataset Data Type: SALINITY (calculated); Units: ppt; Observation Type: model output; Sampling Instrument: documentation only - no instrument type Data Type: ANALYSES - ANNUAL SUMMARIES (measured); Units: ppt; Observation Type: model output; Sampling Instrument: documentation only - no instrument type repository NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015. 2015-04-22T00:00:00 asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian