Eyes on the Bay Data Types Overview
The table below gives an overview of our different water quality monitoring programs and the resultant different types of water quality data collected by Eyes on the Bay. Understanding the differences among these monitoring programs may help you determine what data type best suits your data needs.
| Data Category | Continuous Monitoring | Long Term Fixed Monthly Monitoring | Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW) | Vertical Profiler |
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| Station Lists & Information: | Continuous Monitoring Station Information Table (downloadable) | Fixed Station Information Table (downloadable) | ||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: | MD DNR Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan, Jul (opens in a new tab) | MD DNR Mainstem/Tributaries Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan, Ma (opens in a new tab) | MD DNR Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan, Jul (opens in a new tab) | MD DNR Shallow Water Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan, Jul (opens in a new tab) |
| Sampling type: | Deployed in-situ water quality meter, coupled with bi-weekly on-site measurements and sampling (AKA 'Calibration Data (opens in a new tab)') | Profile sampling at discrete stations from stationary boat or bridge | Surface mapping program, sampling surface water from moving boat | Anchored multi-depth profiler at discrete location |
| Sampling description: | Autonomous water quality meters, exchanged every 2 weeks for cleaning & calibration | Water quality profiles, and nutrient, sediment and chlorophyll samples taken | Monthly sampling at a few sites each year | Autonomous vertical water quality profiler anchored at one site per year |
| Sampling depth: | 1 meter below surface or 0.3 m or 0.5 m off-bottom | Water quality profiles: measurements taken at discrete depths based on site depth | Surface water is pumped through a chamber where water quality is measured by a meter similar to those used in the continuous monitoring program | Measurements recorded every 1-2 meter depth intervals |
| Sampling frequency: | Continuous meter: recorded every 15 mins | Cruises are monthly or bimonthly | Data recorded every 4 secs while underway | Conducts a profiling sequence every 1-3 hours |
| Sampling duration: | April-October; or year-round, weather permitting | Year-round | April-October | Year-round, as weather permits |
| Sampling longevity: | Variable among stations, but sampling began in 2001. Our station timeline chart visually shows sampling longevity (opens in a new tab). | 1984 - present | ||
| Water quality profile done? |  During bimonthly instrument exchange ('Calibration Data (opens in a new tab)') |
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| WATER QUALITY METER PARAMETERS: | ||||
| Water Quality Meter Parameters List | Continuous Monitoring | Long Term Fixed Monthly Monitoring | Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW) | Vertical Profiler |
| Water temperature (°C) | |
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| Specific conductance (mS/cm=mmhos/cm) | |
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| Salinity (ppt) | |
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| Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) | |
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| Dissolved oxygen (% saturation) | |
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| pH | |
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| Chlorophyll (µg/L) | |
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| Blue Green Algae BGA (µg/L) | (at select sites) |
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| Turbidity (ntu) | |
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| Water Depth (m) | (bottom sites) |
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| Algal identification | (if bloom observed) |
(at select sites, or if bloom observed) |
(if bloom observed) |
(if bloom observed) |
| OTHER MEASUREMENTS: | ||||
| Other Measurements List | Continuous Monitoring (~Every 2 Weeks) |
Long Term Fixed Monitoring (Monthly/Bimonthly) |
Surface Mapping (DATAFLOW) (Monthly) |
Vertical Profiler (~Every 2 Weeks) |
| VSS, PC, PIP, TDN, TDP, NH4, TN, TP, PO4, NO2, NO23 | (at NERRS sites & all sites 2010 & prior) |
(at select sites) |
(only 2010 & prior) |
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| Chlorophyll a, Pheophytin a, & Total Suspended Solids (TSS) | |
(at select sites) |
(water sample) |
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| Alkalinity | (Harris Creek only, downloadable (opens in a new tab)) |
(at select sites) |
(Harris Creek only, downloadable (opens in a new tab)) |
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| Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR) / Light Attenuation | |
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| Secchi depth (m) | |
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| Data available on Eyes on the Bay? | Continuous Monitoring Data in summary download form, chart visualization, and raw data download (15 min increment data). Longer intervals of data can be requested (opens in a new tab). |
Charts of Long-Term Monitoring min, max and average results versus current monthly conditions. Data can be downloaded from CBP DataHub (opens in a new tab) |
DATAFLOW Maps & Data: Data are integrated as surface maps of temperature, salinity, DO, turbidity, and chlorophyll a. Raw data can also be downloaded (opens in a new tab). |
Vertical Profiler Data are available for download. |
| Data available on Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) Data Hub (opens in a new tab)? | The biweekly 'calibration data' are available on CBP Data Hub (opens in a new tab) (under 'Shallow-Water Monitoring Program'), but 15 min increment meter data are not |
Yes, all data are available on CBP Data Hub |
The biweekly data are available on CBP Data Hub (opens in a new tab) (under Shallow-Water Monitoring Program), but underway data are not |
The biweekly 'calibration data' are available on CBP Data Hub (opens in a new tab) (under Shallow-Water Monitoring Program), but 15 min increment meter data are not |