Research Questions
Look at the below link:
https://ecoreportcard.org/report-cards/chesapeake-bay/health/
Here you will find an interactive website that allows you to look at the health report of the
Chesapeake Bay as a whole and at individual factors at specific points in the Bay. You can use
the slider at the top to view a specific year, or you can click on a year on the graph located on
the right-hand side of the page. Answer the questions below, but also look at these things:
➢ Look at the map of the Chesapeake Bay and compare the colors of each region when
you look at specific factors, can you determine why some areas are better than others?
➢ Compare the graphs that accompany each individual factor, see if you can determine a
link between the different factors.
1. Look at the Overall Health Index:
What year had the best score? ______________________________________________
What year had the worst score? _____________________________________________
Describe the lines on the graph, ex. bumpy, straight across, tilt up, tilt, down:
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2. Look at the dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P), buttons:
Which factor seemed to remain the same? _____________________________________
Which factor seemed to change the most? _____________________________________
In what regions are the readings the best? The worst?
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3. Look at Water Clarity and Chlorophyll a buttons:
What is the primary you color you see for 2018 for both factors?___________________
Has there been a year where either of these factors were good (green)? _____________
Compare the graphs- are they similar? How do they correspond with one another?
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4. Look at the wildlife (Blue Crab, Bay Anchovy, Striped Bass):
Was there year or years where the score was 100? What years for which animal?
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There are big differences on some of those years- do you think those differences are
caused by natural processes or human processes? Why?
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5. After looking at all these factors, do you think the health of the bay has gotten better, worse,
or stayed the same since this report was created in 1986? Why?
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