Eyes on the Bay - Shallow Water Monitoring Calibration Station Map

The Shallow Water Monitoring Program consists of two elements: continuous monitoring and spatially intensive monitoring, also known as DATAFLOW. Continuous monitoring collects data every 15 minutes at a fixed location via an automated set of probes called a data sonde. DATAFLOW collects surface water quality data every 4 seconds aboard a moving boat during monthly cruises.

In addition to these automated data, calibration data are taken which consist of a water quality vertical profile (water temperature, specific conductance, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll, turbidity, light attenuation and secchi depth) and water samples that are laboratory analyzed. Until 2010, a full set of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus fractions), chlorophyll and TSS were collected for laboratory analysis. Thereafter, most stations were only sampled for TSS and chlorophyll, with the exception of some special projects and National Estuarine Research Reserve sites (NERRS).

For continuous monitoring, calibration data are taken every two to four weeks at the site when newly calibrated data sondes are exchanged. For DATAFLOW, five or more calibration stations are monitored per segment/cruise. These stations are distributed throughout the segment and can co-occur with continuous monitoring sites and/or long-term monitoring stations.

These calibration data are available through numerous ways: by download from the CBP DataHub, custom query on our Continuous Monitoring Data and Charts page, or through the Dataflow Data page.

Our Data Types Overview Table summarizes this information as well.

Above, view a map that displays all historic calibration stations for both Shallow Water monitoring programs, Dataflow and Continuous Monitoring. Each dot represents a station. Hovering or clicking on the dot will list if it was a calibration station for Dataflow, Continuous Monitoring, or both. Additionally, the pop-up lists the years the station was active, and contains a link to the complete data available from that station on the CBP DataHub.