Todays article will concern the oceans that make up & surround Ipswich bay & the bay itself. Unfortunately, due to a malfunction of our servers we were not able to publish as scheduled on the 20th. Ipswich bay exists on the northeastern coast of the U.S state Massachusetts. Ipswich bay has a few sleepy towns along its shoreline making it a great place to relax or get away to. Much of its marine life is not often seen on the top apart from seals, sea lions, & occasionally otters. Despite the overall sleepiness of the social climate this area often doesn’t receive much tourism. In this article we will discuss the salinity, temperature, marine geography & terrain, the main marine ecosystems, the documented marine flora & fauna, the ocean acidification & climate change, & the subsections / rivers & creeks that Ipswich bay runs off into. With that being said, lets delve into this peaceful paradise bay.
The Salinity, Temperature, Tides, Basic Information, & Marine Geography Of Ipswich Bay
Ipswich Bay is located in northern Massachusetts along the gulf of Maine. The current salinity level is unknown as it has not been taken & released to the general public. It sits in the Atlantic ocean which makes it more likely for higher salinity levels. It extends as deep as 70 feet (21.336 meters) within 1 mile off coast. The tides are usually non dangerous & their surf & riptide is quite predictable. The waves usually don’t reach over 11.6 feet (3.53568 meters) high. It is not very polluted & is very safe to swim or do recreational activities in. However drop offs are quite common so it is recommended to proceed with caution. The temperatures for Ipswich bay can be found on a multitude of sites such as: https://seatemperature.net, https://www.watertemp.org, & https://seatemperature. The approximate length of the bay from from one side to another is 5.01965446978 nautical miles (5.7765152
miles or 9.29640007803 kilometers). The information pertaining to that has not been released to the public domain. There are salt water marshes however they do not affect the bays other ecosystems or the bays salinity. Neither does the out going salinity from the Ipswich river. Marine terrain wise it has many rocks that line the bottom of the bay as well as seagrass. These both have helped to provide protection from the fisher peoples of Ipswich bay. Even though it is not very biologically diverse The bay holds some of the most beautiful beaches in the United States of America. However this may hold a negative effect upon the wildlife. Scuba diving is not often taken place here however it does happen as there are many shops around it that offer scuba / snorkelling equipment. There are marine protected areas along Ipswich bay’s coastal area. These are mainly located along the northern end. Ipswich bay is vastly unlogged even though it harbours many people & has many well documented towns along its coast.
The Main / Most Important Marine Ecosystems Of Ipswich Bay
It is important to note that there are many Microsystems within Ipswich bay. However we could only write about the main ecosystems or type of ecosystems as the Microsystems are not well documented. Even though Ipswich bay is well explored on the surface, the sea floor of the bay is not very well explored.
Rocky Coastal Areas
Rocky Coastal areas make up large areas of Ipswich bay. In these areas crustaceans are quite commonly found as well as smaller types of fish such a minnows. Seals & Sea lions often are seen here engaging in social activity & feeding. As said, these areas consist mostly of large rock build up or rock formations. They extend into the ocean & that that is how most crustaceans end up living there. It is fairly common to find these areas by the harbours along Ipswich bay. Salinity levels are are quite commonly higher due to the its placement along the coast. Temperature wise they are usually the same as the areas further out in the bay. It is also important to note that these areas usually aren’t diverse.
Deeper Sea Area Communities
The deeper sea communities of Ipswich bay are much more biologically diverse then the coastal areas. Whales of all kinds are a common sight here as well as other marine mammals. These whales can often be seen feeding or engaging in social gatherings. Crustaceans as well as many different kinds of fish are also common here. These areas usually have underwater rock formations or small under water caves (Not cave systems). These areas usually have a lesser salinity level & are often bustling with wildlife. They are often found out in the bay with up to 70 feet of depth.
Marshland / Estuaries
Marshland areas are usually located to the in the northeastern parts of Ipswich bay. Only 2 seagrass species compose the seagrass population with those being Spartina Alterniflora (Salt-water cordgrass / salt-marsh cordgrass) & Spartina Patens (Salt-meadow cordgrass.). Temperature wise they are usually slightly warmer. Many sea birds, small crustaceans, & small fish species are commonly found here. There are not many marine mammals. It usually is about 2-14 feet (0.6096 to 4.2672 meters). Other then these areas it is not common to find an abundance of seagrass.
The Marine Flora Of Ipswich Bay & Its Effects
Ipswich bay is not very diverse marine plant wise. There are only 2 varieties of marine seagrasses that are documented to grow in Ipswich bay. These 2 species of seagrass are Spartina Alterniflora (Salt-water cordgrass / salt-marsh cordgrass) & Spartina Patens (Salt-meadow cordgrass. ). This is most commonly found in the marshland / estuaries of Ipswich bay. However they are not exclusive to that specific kind of ecosystem in Ipswich bay. They have declined approximately 80% since the 1990’s & are conservation dependent in some ways. However, many projects have been taking place to save the eelgrass population from extinction in Ipswich Bay. Due to the presence of these grasses Ipswich bay in later years has not been forming many more subsections. This is most likely due to the seagrass causing erosion to slow down. The opposite can be seen in Morro Bay, California. There are not very many kinds of kelp or marine plants that are documented to exist in the bay.
The Marine Fauna Of Ipswich Bay
There are many more species of Fauna then there are of flora in Ipswich Bay. There is no complete log as to how many species exist within Ipswich Bay or the exact species that live within the bay. However due to migration patterns logging these animals would require vigorous & taxing work & even then migration patterns often change. A list of known marine mammals include but are not limited to: Humpback whales, harbour seals, harbour porpoises, Northern Minke whales, Steller sea lions, killer whales, & Dall’s porpoise. These are all mostly seen within the months of September to May. They are best observed from boats or from Plum Island. These animals are not conservation dependent (In this specific area). However conservative acts take place often by many estate owners such as the owners of Crane Beach. They are relatively unbothered within the bay by humans.
The Subsections / The Rivers & Creeks That Ipswich Bay Runs Into Or Has Created
Due to Eelgrass depletion over the years & many other factors, there are many subsections that Ipswich bay runs off into. These areas are not often talked about or associated with Ipswich Bay. There are a total of 4 rivers that Ipswich bay directly runs off into. However, there is only one main river that will be talked about. These rivers are essential to the marine flora & fauna of surrounding areas. We will also discuss the Annisquam Estuary in this segment. With that being said let us delve into the rivers that Ipswich Bay runs into.
No.1 Ipswich River
The Ipswich River was documented in 1638 when John Winthrop bought the land from the Agawam tribe of indigenous peoples. It is approximately 45 miles throughout Massachusetts. It is salt water with an undocumented salinity level. The documented temperature of the river is currently 54° Fahrenheit or 12.2222 ° Celsius. It is used modernly by humans to power Ipswich Mills Dam.
No.2 Annisquam River
The Anniquam river was first documented in 1631 when a European settlement was built near / around it. It is approximately 8 feet deep & 4.5 miles long. It is salt water with an undocumented salinity level. A site in which the water surface temperature can be found for this is https://https://www.watertemp. It is used mostly for fishing & recreational purposes modernly.
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