Investigating Coastal Processes and Nitrate Levels in the Elkhorn Slough Using Real-Time Data

The primary objective of this activity is to predict how coastal processes, such as tides, affect salinity, temperature, and nitrate levels in a type of estuary, called a slough. Real-time data from the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in Monterey, California, will be used to test predictions. In addition to collecting, graphing, and interpreting real-time data, students will learn how nitrates enter the estuary, and they will gain a better understanding of the interconnectedness of all bodies of water, especially estuaries