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Water Quality and Weather Monitoring
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_spacer height=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”5649″ style=”vc_box_outline”][vc_spacer][vc_single_image image=”5650″ style=”vc_box_outline”][vc_spacer][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Water quality parameters have been collected since 1995 with the establishment of the first water quality monitoring station at Potter Cove. Other three water quality stations (Nag Creek, T-Wharf Surface and T-Wharf Bottom, see map) were brought online in 2002. These stations represent a gradient in habitat types that range from salt marsh (Nag Creek station) to shallow cove (Potter Cove) to open Bay water (T-Wharf Surface and T-Wharf Bottom).
Water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (% saturation, and mg L-1), pH, turbidity, and chlorophyll data are collected at each station every 15 minutes using YSI 6600 V2 and EXO2 data loggers (see image at left) that are calibrated and swapped out at each station approximately every two weeks following standard protocols.[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer height=”40″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_text_separator title=”Quick Links”][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu=”33″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_spacer height=”40″][vc_column_text]
Nutrients
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_spacer height=”25″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Complementary to the existing long-term water quality monitoring program, the NERRS implemented a new nutrient and chlorophyll monitoring program in 2002. The two sub-components of this program include monthly grab sampling at each of the four water quality stations, and diel sampling once a month at one site. All collected grab and diel samples are analyzed for concentrations of phosphates (PO4), ammonia (NH4), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), NO2+NO3, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), silicates (SiO4) and chlorophyll a.
The grab sampling program requires the collection of duplicate water samples every month from each of the four long-term water quality monitoring stations with the purpose to quantify seasonal patterns of nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations in different estuarine habitats (marsh creek, cove, surface open water, bottom open water).
The diel sampling program requires to collect a series of samples from one station over an approximately 24-hour period each month to examine how nutrient and chlorophyll concentrations change over diel and tidal cycles.[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer height=”40″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”5654″ style=”vc_box_outline”][vc_spacer][vc_single_image image=”5655″ style=”vc_box_outline”][vc_spacer][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_spacer height=”40″][vc_column_text]
Weather
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Since 2001, meteorological data has been collected as part of the SWMP at the weather station located on Prudence Island. Data on air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, photosynthetic active radiation, and precipitation are collected every 15 minutes. Meteorological data is continually used to complement the water quality, biological monitoring and scientific research efforts at NBNERR and at Narragansett Bay, and to assist educational and stewardship activities around the Bay.
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How to obtain water quality, nutrients, and weather data
Near-Real-Time Telemetry Data App
CDMO has developed an application that allow users to view near-real-time data, real time gauges, and 24 hour graphs with multiple parameters. Near-real-time water quality data from the T-Wharf Bottom station, and meteorological data from our weather station are available on your laptop at http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu, or on your smartphone or tablet at: www.nerrsdata.org/mobile.
Data Request
For quick and easy access of larger datasets of all SWMP stations, CDMO developed the Data Export System (DES). The DES utilizes a map-based interface and offers single station exports, yearly authenticated file downloads (these may include non-standard nutrient parameters), charting, and a current conditions display for real-time stations at http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu/get/export.cfm.
SWMP data can also be obtained by contacting the Research Coordinator or the Marine Research Specialist II by phone or email.
National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). 2016. System-wide Monitoring Program. Data accessed from the NOAA NERRS Centralized Data Management Office website: www.nerrsdata.org; accessed on 02/24/2016.[/vc_column_text][vc_spacer height=”40″][/vc_column][/vc_row]