![](images/TRECnav_01.gif) |
|
|
Author |
Message |
Amy_Clapp
![](images/avatars/85370424840ad5d00840a7.jpg)
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 84
|
Posted:
Fri Jun 04, 2004 6:58 pm |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_quote.gif) ![Back to top Back to top](templates/fisubsilversh/images/icon_up.gif) |
Water Sampling
We have been taking water samples everyday from the shores of the Lena River to learn more about the water and how its chemistry changes during the ice breakup period when river discharge increases from low winter levels to the highest discharge of the year.
The chemistry of the water will give scientists information about where the water came from (precipitation or groundwater) and also about biogeochemical processes occurring in the Lena River watershed (a watershed is the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains into specific streams, rivers, or lakes). The physical characteristics of a watershed – including its slope, geology, and vegetation will affect the patterns, amount, and chemistry of the water that flows through the system. By carefully analyzing the samples that we take from the Lena River, scientists will find out all sorts of things about the Lena River watershed and they will be able to trace the Lena River water after it enters the Arctic Ocean. And by doing a few tests of your own, you too can learn more about the water in your watershed.
Nitrate and Phosphate - Plants need nitrogen and phosphorus to grow, and they often get if from nitrate (a molecule made up of nitrogen and oxygen) and phosphate (a molecule made up of phosphorus and oxygen). Humans also use nitrate and phosphate to fertilize their crops, gardens, and lawns, and produce them as waste products. If too much pf these nutrients gets into riverss or lake or the ocean, they can cause big problems. They can basically cause the ecosystem to get out of balance due to increased plant growth. Then when the plants die, it takes oxygen to break them down which can cause the oxygen levels in the water to get very low. When this happens, fish and other aquatic organisms can die.
Dissolved Oxygen-Organisms that live in the water need oxygen to live—but how do they get it underwater? They get it from oxygen that is dissolved in the water. Some freshwater organisms need high levels of dissolved oxygen, while others can handle a wide range of dissolved oxygen levels. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water depends on things such as temperature, wind and current speed, as well as on the amount of photosynthesis (which produces oxygen) and respiration (which consumes oxygen) that has occurred in the water.
Air and Water Temperature - Water temperature affects many aspects of aquatic ecosystems, including the rates of photosynthesis and respiration, how fast many aquatic plants and animals grow, and the ability of oxygen to stay dissolved in water (cold water can hold more oxygen that warmer water). Air temperature is important because it directly impacts the temperature of the water.
pH - This will measure whether the water is acidic, basic, or neutral. Different organisms have adapted to life in water with specific pH, so if the pH changes, they might not survive. Changes in the pH of lakes and rivers are often a result of human activities.
Current Speed - You can measure the current speed by placing a meter stick or string next to the river and then use something that floats to see how far the thing floats in one second. Fast-flowing water tends to be cool and well oxygenated, and thus better able to support more kinds of life.
*** Some of these activities were modified from the Jason XIII Curriculum |
|
|
![View user's profile View user's profile](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_profile.gif) ![Send private message Send private message](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_pm.gif) ![Send e-mail Send e-mail](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_email.gif) ![AIM Address AIM Address](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_aim.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) |
Amy_Clapp
![](images/avatars/85370424840ad5d00840a7.jpg)
Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 84
|
Posted:
Fri Jun 04, 2004 7:00 pm |
![Reply with quote Reply with quote](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_quote.gif) ![Back to top Back to top](templates/fisubsilversh/images/icon_up.gif) |
Here is a blank Data Sheet for Water Sampling:
Water Data Sheet
1. Date of Test:
2. Time of Test:
3. Name of aquatic site or description of where it is located:
4. Latitude_______ Longitude___________
5. Type of water: _____lake _____river _____other (explain)
6. Color of the water:
_____clear
_____tea-colored
_____oily
_____cloudy
_____muddy
_____black
_____foamy
_____rusty
_____green
_____gray
_____brown
7. Classify your site:
_____rural
_____suburban
_____urban
_____nature preserve
_____other (explain)
8. What is within 10 meters of the water’s edge?
_____concrete
_____soil
_____trees
_____rocks
_____other vegetation
_____other (explain)
9. What land uses do you see around the study area?
_____roads
_____mining
_____forests
_____discharge pipes
_____industry
_____houses
_____recreation area
_____businesses
_____schools
_____farms
_____landfills
How would any of the land uses that you checked above impact the watershed?
10. What kinds of plants/trees do you see around the site? Describe them.
11. Weather Observations:
Air Temperature:_____
Water Temperature:_____
Sky Conditions (circle): clear partly cloudy cloudy
Description, type, or drawing of any clouds present:
Current Precipitation: ____none type_________________________
Precipitation within the past 24 hours: _____none type____________________
Wind speed (circle): calm, gentle breeze, moderate breeze, strong breeze, gale, storm, hurricane.
12. pH circle one 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
13. Current Speed:_____cm/sec
14. Dissolved Oxygen-O_2 (use tablets)
15. Phosphate (use tablets)
16. Nitrate (use tablets) |
|
|
![View user's profile View user's profile](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_profile.gif) ![Send private message Send private message](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_pm.gif) ![Send e-mail Send e-mail](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_email.gif) ![AIM Address AIM Address](templates/fisubsilversh/images/lang_english/icon_aim.gif) |
![](images/spacer.gif) |
|
|
View next topic
View previous topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB 2.0.11
© 2001, 2002 phpBB Group :: FI Theme ::
All times are GMT
| |