Foldable - INSTRUCTIONS Add Name, Date, Block Color in upper right hand corner of Turbidity Tab. Each Tab Should have the following: Title of Indicator at top of each tab 1. Turbidity 2. pH Level 3. Dissolved Oxygen 4. Temperature 5. Nitrates (and Phosphates later) 6. Bio-Indicators Definition & Levels Causes Results Picture (BE CREATIVE! YOU MAY NOT COPY THE PICTURES FROM THIS POWERPOINT!) All PICTURES should be fully colored!
What is an Indicator? Water can be “good quality” or “bad quality” based off of several criteria (measures) Measuring these things indicate the health of the water Includes turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrates, and bio-indicators
TURBIDITY DEFINITION: Turbidity: measure of the degree to which water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. Turbidity measures how cloudy water is. This is a river with ____ turbidity
TURBIDITY DEFINITION: Turbidity: measure of the degree to which water loses its transparency due to the presence of suspended particulates. Turbidity measures how cloudy water is. This is a river with HIGH turbidity
Turbidity LEVELS: Ideal level: 1 NTU High level: 5 NTU (I can’t see a darn thing!)
Turbidity CAUSES: Increased levels of phytoplankton (algae growth),
Turbidity CAUSES: Increased levels of phytoplankton (algae growth), EUTROPHICATION
Turbidity CAUSES: Increased levels of phytoplankton (algae growth), EUTROPHICATION Sediment from erosion, Stirred up sediments from the bottom, Waste discharge, Urban runoff
Turbidity RESULTS: High turbidity increases the absorption of sunlight thus making the water warmer. WARMER WATERS LOWER amount of DISSOLVED OXYGEN causing fish and larvae to suffocate & die! Also, water that is turbid is usually considered more HARMFUL TO DRINK!!
pH DEFINITION: pH: how acidic (burning) or basic (bleachy) water gets.
pH LEVELS: 70 water gets more acidic (burns) 7 is neutral (PERFECT WATER…ideal!) 7 14 water gets more basic (bleaches) A change in pH by 2 units (7-5 for example) results in a water system having 100 times rise in acidity Surface Freshwater: 6.0 9.0 Swamps: as low as 4.3 Salt Water: 8.1 but as low as 7.7
pH CAUSES: CHEMICALS in the water Abandoned coal mines Industrial pollution
pH RESULTS: Most aquatic life are sensitive to changes in pH. LOW (ACID) pH corrodes pipes, buildings, monuments HIGH (BASIC) pH leaves hard water deposits (Ca & Mg)
DISSOLVED OXYGEN DEFINITION: the amount oxygen GAS bubbles dissolved in the water
DISSOLVED OXYGEN DEFINITION: the amount oxygen GAS (O2) bubbles dissolved in the water
Dissolved Oxygen LEVELS: Average level: 9.0 ppm (parts per million) Not LESS than 4.5 ppm or many fish will suffocate!
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) CAUSES: MORE DISSOLVED OXYGEN LESS DISSOLVED OXYGEN turbulence (waves, rapids), phytoplankton algae & plant growth (photosynthesis releases O2 in water) GOOD for the water!!!
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) CAUSES: LESS DISSOLVED OXYGEN higher temperatures (More O2 escapes, possibly from high turbidity or power plants!) High nitrate levels/when algae blooms die & decomposers poop! BAD for water!!
Dissolved Oxygen RESULTS: When dissolved oxygen drops too low, FISH CAN’T BREATHE what little oxygen is there! Look for contributing causes! Thermal pollution? Nitrates? Turbidity?
Dissolved Oxygen RESULTS: When dissolved oxygen drops too low, FISH CAN’T BREATHE what little oxygen is there! Look for contributing causes! thermal pollution (T to high) too much nitrates high turbidity
TEMPERATURE DEFINITION: The amount of kinetic heat energy found in moving atoms & molecules.
TEMPERATURE DEFINITION: The amount of kinetic heat energy found in moving atoms & molecules.
Temperature LEVELS: Below 32 degrees F practically all aquatic life dies Above 97 degrees F only rough & tough aquatic life can tolerate (withstand) such high temperatures
Change in Temperature CAUSES: POWER PLANTS heat up water High turbidity (particles) absorb heat & warms water
RESULTS from changes in temperature: Sudden temperature changes can shock & kill fish. When water gets too warm fish suffocate due to THERMAL POLLUTION. Warm temps also make aquatic life more susceptible (vulnerable, weak) to disease.
NITRATES DEFINITION: Molecules that contains the nitrogen based NO3 (Ex: Sodium Nitrate NaNO3)
Nitrates CAUSES: Fertilizer runoff (both agricultural farm and home lawn), Manure, animal wastes Leaks in septic systems, human feces too,
Nitrate LEVELS: Humans: more than 10 mg/L -- we are affected Fish: more than 90 mg/L fish are affected
Results: too much nitrates Too much nitrate wastes POLLUTES the water killing fish, contaminates our precious fresh water! Nitrates (natural & man-made fertilizers)can TRIGGER PHYTOPLANKTON (algae) EUTROPHICATION and eventually lower dissolved oxygen levels when decomposers go use up all the oxygen to eat the dead algae.
PHOSPHATES definition: PHOSPHATES are molecules with phosphorus atoms in it. (Phosphorus is
PHOSPHATES levels:
PHOSPHATES causes: PHOSPHATES in our water usually come from TWO SOURCES: non-organic (mineral) fertilizers detergents that clean clothes, dishes, etc & stuff that softens water NC is known for having some of the largest phosphate mineral mines in the country
PHOSPHATES results: Similar to having too much nitrates…. EUTROPHICATION can occur as algae blooms So, too much PHOSPHATES can eventually to depleted (too little) dissolved oxygen! Foamy water!
Too much phosphates: Similar to having too much nitrates…. EUTROPHICATION can occur as algae blooms So, too much PHOSPHATES can eventually to depleted (too little) dissolved oxygen!
BIO-INDICATORS DEFINITION: Living things that tend to stay in one area and are sensitive to pollution.
Levels: Bio-indicators LEVELS: The more sensitive you are, the better bio-indicator you are for your environment.
CAUSES for bio-indicators sensitivity: These can be any of the other indicators we’ve mentioned above including changes in: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate levels phosphate levels
RESULTS: Bio-indicators Sensitive bio-indicators in their right environment can give us important “heads-up” warning on possible pollution problems so we can be more proactive! umm… too late here guys!