What's Measured?

Volunteers measure early morning dissolved oxygen levels, temperature, salinity and water clarity on a set schedule once a week from May to September. These basic parameters provide an immediate snapshot of the health of the bay and are an excellent first warning system. From these measurements volunteers can determine the percentage of oxygen saturation in the water and conditions in their specific Bay location for marine organisms throughout the summer months.

In addition to weekly oxygen testing, volunteers collect samples for nutrient and chlorophyll analysis. These samples are collected from the inner to the outer portions of each embayment approximately four times between July and August. These samples are collected in the field and brought to the Ecosystems Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole for analysis of dissolved and particulate forms of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon/nitrogen rations, pheophytin and chlorophyll-a content. All data collection and analysis is conducted in accordance with an U.S. EPA and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan.