Boothbay Harbor Environmental Data
Available Data
Weather and sea condition data have been collected from our station in Boothbay Harbor (BBH) continuously since 1989. To access these data, go to the Data Reporting, Graphing, and Download Tool, care of the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMoos) server.
The Boothbay Harbor Sea Water Temperature Record, extending over more than a century, constitutes one of the longest running, continuous series of sea temperature observations for any point on the North American Atlantic Coast. Observations began in March 1905 and have continued, with minimal interruption, to the present day.
Annual and current monthly summaries of BBH Environmental Data and the monthly means of BBH sea water temperature can be obtained by contacting Mark Lazzari by email at
or phone (207-633-9569).
Station History
The Environmental Monitoring Program began at the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries fish hatchery in Boothbay Harbor in 1905. Air and sea surface temperatures were recorded three times every day from 1905 until 1949, when instruments were installed and data were recorded continuously. Environmental observations were expanded in the 1960's to include a variety of other physical oceanographic and meteorological variables in addition to temperature. In 1973, the program was taken over by the Maine Department of Marine Resources and data collection, processing, and storage were computerized in 1986. Observations of 11 environmental variables, including air temperature, barometric pressure, precipitation, salinity, sea surface and bottom temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, tide height, wind speed and wind direction, were recorded at 15 minute, one hour, and one day intervals through October 1996. Currently, observations of the 11 environmental variables are recorded at one hour, and daily intervals. Monthly summaries of the first six observations listed above and yearly summaries of all observations are distributed to various U.S., Canadian, and state governmental agencies, academic institutions, aquaculture companies, and environmental consulting firms. Sea surface temperature data are reported on a regular basis to the U.S. Naval Air Station in Brunswick and a variety of data are provided on request to the news media, the public, government agencies, and researchers.
Station Description
The Environmental Monitoring Program is operated by the Maine Department of Marine Resources with the goal of maintaining a continuous source of high-quality physical environmental data. The station is located at the Department's Fisheries Laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine (43°50'40" N, 69°38'30" W). All of the station's sensors are deployed at or near the laboratory pier (reconstructed in 1991) in a sheltered cove on the west side of Boothbay Harbor. The main harbor is very sheltered and the cove is more so. Wave heights during a severe storm may reach three or four feet in the main harbor but rarely reach even two feet in the cove. Mean tide range has been calculated by the National Ocean Service at 8.8 feet and the spring tide range is given as 10.1 feet. While the harbor typically remains open throughout the year, the cove often develops a thin layer of ice which would extend from shore to shore if it weren't broken up by the passage of various small vessels. Freshwater influences within the harbor consist of a few small streams which provide drainage for the immediate area. Larger rivers are the Sheepscot to the southwest and the Damariscotta to the northeast.
Sea surface and sea bottom temperature sensors are located at fixed levels: -5.5 feet MLW (relative to mean low water) and -25 feet MLW, respectively. The salinity sensor is suspended at a fixed level in close proximity to the sea surface temperature sensor. Tide height is measured with a pressure transducer. The air temperature and relative humidity sensors are mounted over the water in a down-looking radiation shield. Precipitation is measured by a heated, shielded, tipping bucket gauge installed at the easternmost end of the pier. The solar radiation sensor is tower mounted at the western end of the lab parking lot approximately 30 feet above sea level but the southern horizon is obscured to a small extent by terrain and trees. The wind speed and direction sensors are also tower mounted at approximately 30 feet above the ground. The barometer is located on the second floor of the DMR Lab Building.
Statistics Reported
Several statistics are calculated for the monthly and annual summaries. Mean values for periods of one month and one year are calculated from daily means. Extreme values reported in the annual summary (ie. highest, lowest) are instantaneous extremes observed to the nearest minute but reported in summary form only to the day of occurrence. The average daily maximum reported in the annual summary is the mean of all daily maximums for the given month. This is contrasted with the maximum daily average reported in the monthly summaries which is simply the greatest daily mean for a given month. A corresponding contrast can be drawn between the average daily minimum and the minimum daily average.
