Physical Characteristics

Understand how salinity, temperature and water circulation work together to form the unique physical conditions in the Bay.

A woman holds a refractometer up to one eye, with the other eye squeezed shut.
Michelle Koehler of Living Classrooms Foundation demonstrates how to use a refractometer to measure salinity while teaching fourth grade students from Federal Hill Preparatory School about water quality. (Chesapeake Bay Program)

Salinity, temperature and circulation are three important physical characteristics of water in the Chesapeake Bay. Each of these physical characteristics affects and is affected by the others.