Characterization of salinity and temperature for Mobile Bay

Mobile Bay is oriented on a north-south axis, perpendicular to the Gulf of Mexico. The boundaries of the estuary are defined from the head of tide on the Alabama and Tombigbee Rivers at Claiborne and Coffeeville, respectively, to its terminus with the Gulf of Mexico at Main Pass and Pass aux Herons (on inside back cover). Mobile Bay is a submerged river valley estuary and is comprised of two distinct geographic regions. The bay, in general, is relatively large, shallow, and wide. In contrast, the upper tidally influenced reaches of the system form an extensive delta region as Mobile River enters the bay through three major distributaries accounting for runoff associated with 90% of the drainage basin. 1989 NOS (National Ocean Service) Library Public Domain 2289