Questions for Voyage 7

Real-time Questions

Instructions: Choose the phrase that best answers each question.

1. Examine Figure 1. The town of Rio Vista is along the
A. South Bay
B. Central Bay
C. San Pablo Bay
D. Suisun Bay
E. Sacramento River

2. Examine Figure 3. The highest amount of Delta Discharge during the year is in the months of
A. October through January
B. January through April
C. April through July
D. July through October

3. Compare the two diagrams in Figure 5. Throughout most of the Bay, the salinity in 1995 was highest in
A. Spring (April)
B. Fall (September)

4. Compare the two diagrams in Figure 6. Throughout most of the Bay, the salinity was highest in
A. 1994
B. 1995

5. Compare the data in Figures 5 and 6 with the transect location in Figure 4. At both times of year and in both years, the highest salinity values occurred in the
A. South Bay
B. Central Bay
C. San Pablo Bay
D. Suisun Bay
E. Sacramento River


Lag-time Questions

Instructions: Write short answers for the following questions. Answers will be graded credit / no credit. Results will be available several days after the exercise due date.

1. Examine Figure 2, the watershed map for San Francisco Bay. As well as you can, describe the path that freshwater follows on its journey into the Bay. It will help to read the captions for Figures 1 and 2.



2. Examine Figure 3. What happens to the salinity of Bay water at the Golden Gate when the fresh water discharge from the Delta is high? [The salinity of Bay water in this diagram varies from 26 ppt (lower salinity) to 33 ppt (higher salinity.] Think about why there is a correlation between discharge and salinity.



3. Examine the salinity data in Figures 5 and 6, particularly the April months. In general, what can you say about the variation in salinity from the top of the Bay to the bottom? [That is, does it tend to be saltier (higher salinity) toward the top or the bottom of the Bay? The April 95 image shows this most clearly.]



4. Examine the salinity data in Figure 5. Why is there a strong salinity difference between the water in April and September of the same year? (Hint: think about our seasonal weather changes.)



5. Examine the salinity data in Figure 6. What difference between 1994 and 1995 could explain the salinity contrast of Bay water in April of these years? (Hint: think about weather differences from year to year.)

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