Tampa Bay Study scientists have been collecting data on surface water quality in Tampa Bay using a boat-mounted system. As the boat rides on the Bay, water is forced through a tube flow-through system where sensors collect data on the several water quality parameters, including salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. Using this system, scientists can collect water data over a greater spatial extent, thereby allowing a greater sampling over the entire Bay. The data set complements already established water quality data collection programs established by local city, county, and state management agencies.

Each water quality parameter is then imported into a geographic information system (GIS) where the data is first checked for quality and then interpolated into bay-wide maps. The maps provide merely an interpretation of the water quality data and should not be regarded as actual water quality measurements.