Mean Tidal Range in Salt Marsh Units of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, USA, contains data on the spatial variation of mean tidal range across its salt marsh units. The dataset was created by Zafer Defne and Neil K. Ganju of the U.S. Geological Survey using VDatum software to calculate the difference between mean high water and mean low water. It supports the Hurricane Sandy Science Plan's Wetland Synthesis Project to assess coastal wetland vulnerability and ecosystem service potential.

Use Cases

• Modeling salt marsh biomass production based on the described positive correlation with mean tidal range.
• Assessing coastal wetland stability and resilience based on vegetative growth linked to tidal range.
• Estimating ecosystem service potential of wetlands as part of the described USGS Wetland Synthesis Project.
• Mapping spatial variation in tidal inundation for habitat management within the refuge.

Strengths

• Data is derived from a defined scientific method using VDatum (v3.5) software.
• Produced by the authoritative U.S. Geological Survey as part of a federal science plan.
• Focuses on a specific, ecologically significant pilot study area for coastal wetlands.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

United States Geological Survey

Collection Method

Calculated using VDatum (v3.5) software with input elevation set to zero to find the difference between mean high water and mean low water datums.

Geography

Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, spanning Great Bay, Little Egg Harbor, and Barnegat Bay in New Jersey, USA.