Current meter time series, bottom pressure records and acoustic doppler pro
filer data assembled from three field studies conducted from 1994 to 1997 a
re combined with wind data to investigate the transport of water across the
open western boundary of Florida Bay. Calculations suggest that the intera
ction of tidal variations in currents and water levels along the 81 degrees
05'W meridian transports water into Florida Bay at an average rate of 1470
m(3) s(-1). Fortnightly tidal cycles produce variations ranging from 35-15
0% about the mean. At a rate of 1470 m(3) s(-1), water level in the 2219 km
(2) area east of the 81 degrees 05'W meridian would rise at a rate of 5.7 c
m d(-1). It is hypothesized that Gulf water enters the bay faster than it c
an drain into Hawk Channel on the Atlantic side of the keys, and that outfl
ow occurs also as a quasi-steady southwestward transport from the southern
part of the bay, where tide-induced residual transport is weakest. Transpor
t calculations indicate a region of weak but persistent outflow through the
southern end of the boundary. Wind stress is coherent with flow across the
western boundary primarily over time scales longer than seven days. Year-t
o-year differences in wind forcing are consistent with differences in net e
astward transport through the central and northern parts of the boundary.