Chesapeake Water Watch: Satellites & Samples
Two of our satellites pass over the Bay on the same day!
Event Details
Attention all adventurers and volunteer scientists! The excitement was so incredible during our last collection event that we just couldn't resist doing it all over again on October 2nd, 2023.
Prepare for another extraordinary opportunity to contribute to NASA's Chesapeake Water Watch program. Once more, we'll have two high-resolution satellites, Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2a, gracing the skies above the Chesapeake Bay.
Join us once more on this exhilarating quest for scientific discovery and a sustainable future! It's as simple as collecting a bottle of water, filling out a quick datasheet, and dropping it off at a nearby collection hub. Your small act can still make a big impact in safeguarding our coastal ecosystems. Don't miss out on the fun!
*Time
Drop-off samples between 9AM-5PM (unless otherwise noted in the collection hub description). Samples must be dropped off at the collection hubs by the time indicated to ensure we have enough time to transport and process the samples.
What You'll Need
An empty plastic water bottle
A smartphone or device to record GPS coordinates
Event datasheet (or piece of paper to record data)
A rubber band or something to attach datasheet to sample bottle
Collection Hubs
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Day-of contact: Tara Sill (sillt@si.edu)
647 Contees Wharf Road,
Edgewater, MD 21037
Drop-off window: 8AM - 5PM
Please note that this is subject to change - Be on the lookout on Sunday, Oct. 1st, 2023 for the final location.
Anne Arundel Community College
Day-of contact: Tara Sill (sillt@si.edu)
101 College Parkway,
Arnold, MD 21012
Drop-off window: 9AM - 5PM
Marshy Point Nature Center
Day-of contact: Shelby Brown (443-482-2270)
7130 Marshy Point Rd,
Middle River, MD 21220
Drop-off window: 10AM - 3PM
Eastern Shore Collection Hub
Day-of contact: Shelby Brown (443-482-2270)
9104 Mallard Point Ct
McDaniel MD 21647
Drop-off window: 10AM - 5PM
Cooler will be on front porch. Scan QR code to notify drop-off.
Advocates for Herring Bay
Day-of contact: Tara Sill (sillt@si.edu)
404 Arundel Road,
Tracys Landing, MD, 20779
Drop-off window: 9AM - 5PM
Cooler will be on front porch. Knock or ring doorbell to notify drop-off.
How To
Click on the image to view the PDF version
CWW Virtual Training: Collecting a Water Sample
For drop-off locations that are not at SERC, you may stop the video at 1:44.
Get GPS Coordinates on Google Maps and Apple Maps
This is very important! Accurate GPS points are required for successful data analysis. No GPS location = We can’t use the data!
Google Maps
Android
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
.
- Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
- In the search box, you can find the coordinates.
iPhone or iPad
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app
- Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
- At the bottom, tap Dropped pin to find the coordinates.
Apple Maps
Get GPS Coordinates in Maps on iPhone and iPad
Open Maps on your iPhone or iPad and then follow these steps to get your current location’s GPS coordinates.
- Tap the current location button on the top right.
- When the blue circle for your spot appears on the map, tap it.
- Swipe up from the bottom to view full details for your location and you’ll see the Latitude and Longitude.
Credit: AppleToolBox
Not sure where to go?
Collection Tips
- Your safety is our #1 priority. If weather does not permit for collection, that’s okay! We will have more events and ways to get involved in the future.
- Be sure to write clearly on your datasheet! We need to be able to match up the water sample to the data on your datasheet. Without both, we won’t be able to use your sample!
- Try to take a water sample as far from the shore as possible. If it’s too close to shore, wave action may contaminate the sample and not give us an accurate representation of the overall body of water.