Stream temperature rising throughout the Chesapeake Bay region
Completed
By Chesapeake Bay Activities
December 1, 2014
U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
- The majority of streams in the Chesapeake Bay region are warming, and that increase appears to be driven largely by rising air temperatures.
- Water temperature has risen, on average, 1.4 degrees C (2.52 degrees F) between 1960 and 2010 in streams of the Chesapeake Bay region.
Implications for the bay and its watershed are:
- Warming waters can cause an increase in eutrophication, which is the primary cause of fish kills each summer. Eutrophication (an overabundance of nutrients) has plagued the bay for decades and likely will increase as temperatures of waters contributing to the bay continue to rise. Reducing nutrients delivered to the bay is a major goal of the restoration effort.
- Upstream waters will become less suitable for some cool-water fish species, such as brook trout. Brook trout is a key species for restoration in the bay watershed and in the eastern U.S.
More information:
- USGS Press Release: Chesapeake Bay Region Streams are Warming (12/8/14)
- Rising air and stream-water temperatures in Chesapeake Bay region, USA—Article
- For more information contact
Karen Rice, kcrice@usgs.gov or
John Jastram jdjastra@usgs.gov
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
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U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
U.S. Geological Survey research, published in the journal Climatic Change
- The majority of streams in the Chesapeake Bay region are warming, and that increase appears to be driven largely by rising air temperatures.
- Water temperature has risen, on average, 1.4 degrees C (2.52 degrees F) between 1960 and 2010 in streams of the Chesapeake Bay region.
Implications for the bay and its watershed are:
- Warming waters can cause an increase in eutrophication, which is the primary cause of fish kills each summer. Eutrophication (an overabundance of nutrients) has plagued the bay for decades and likely will increase as temperatures of waters contributing to the bay continue to rise. Reducing nutrients delivered to the bay is a major goal of the restoration effort.
- Upstream waters will become less suitable for some cool-water fish species, such as brook trout. Brook trout is a key species for restoration in the bay watershed and in the eastern U.S.
More information:
- USGS Press Release: Chesapeake Bay Region Streams are Warming (12/8/14)
- Rising air and stream-water temperatures in Chesapeake Bay region, USA—Article
- For more information contact
Karen Rice, kcrice@usgs.gov or
John Jastram jdjastra@usgs.gov
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. View Media Details
« Return to Chesapeake Bay Activities — Home