Dissolved oxygen (DO) refers to the amount of oxygen that is present in the water. Just like humans, all of the Bay's living creatures—from worms to fish to crabs—need oxygen to survive.
Chlorophyll is the pigment that allows plants (including algae) to convert sunlight into organic compounds during photosynthesis. Of the several kinds of chlorophyll, chlorophyll a is the predominant type found in algae.
Water clarity is a measure of the amount of sunlight that can penetrate through the water. Clear waters are indicative of a healthy Bay, though clarity will always fluctuate naturally depending on weather conditions.
The distribution and stability of the Bay's ecosystem depends on three important physical characteristics of the water: salinity, temperature and circulation. Each affects and is affected by the others.