Coastal Storms and Water Quality Created and presented by: Alicia McPherson, Tracie Twine, Amanda Richardson, and Gretchen Davila

For years, the Pasquotank area has been paying EPA tons of money because of farm and storm runoff. Even though we have new businesses, docks and boat facilities, people are still concerned about activities on the watershed.

Problem Statement What is the relationship of storms to the decline of water quality in the Pasquotank area?

What Causes A Storm?  Storms occur from the interactions among the earth’s spheres.  Typically the atmosphere and hydrosphere.  Storms usually have conditions like warm water and moist, humid and combined with low air pressure.

Types of Storms Effecting Our Area HHHHurricanes TTTTornados HHHHail storms TTTThunderstorms NNNNor’easters

Hurricanes are strong wind storms, which are cyclonic in nature. This means that they revolve around a central point, which is known as an 'eye'. The eye is the calmest part in the storm, while the winds raging around the storm have reached a speed of 119 km an hour! The winds rotate in an anti-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere, and in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere. What Are Hurricanes?

How Are Hurricanes Formed?  Hurricanes are formed in tropical, ocean areas.  The warm air above the ocean begins to rise, and as it rises, it condenses and forms clouds and rain droplets.

Thunder and Lightening  These storms can vary from relatively mild rainstorms to very damaging storms that feature hail and high wind.  Thunderstorms form when warm air rises from Earth's surface and moves upwards quickly into the colder levels of the atmosphere.  Lightning forms when updrafts of air carry water droplets, which have a charge upward to heights where some freeze into ice and snow particles.

Storms (Atmosphere ) Biosphere Storms impact the biosphere in several ways  When it rains, can lead to flooding and runoff that can wash away plant and animal life.  Wind and hail can destroy plant life at water edges Lithosphere Storms impact the Lithosphere in several ways  Runoff will carry sediments into the water and cause erosion  The runoff could pick up fertilizers and ash and carry plant matter into our waterway Hydrosphere Storms impact the Hydrosphere in several ways  Contaminating the water Water Quality (Hydrosphere) Impacts Biosphere impact the water quality in several ways  wash away plant and animal life.  destroy plant life Impacts Lithosphere impact the water quality in several ways  The water will be contaminated with chemicals that will give the water poor quality. Impacts Hydrosphere impact the water quality in several ways  It is contaminated by the chemicals in the sediment such as sulfur, parasites, carbon, and much more

Atmosphere  This sphere is where weather occur  Storms form in the atmosphere as an interaction between air pressure (Low/High) and sun’s energy.

Biosphere  When it rains a certain amount of water is absorbed into gardens, but a significant amount ends up in our drains and waterways as storm water runoff.  The runoff eventually picks up fertilizers and ash and carries plant matter into our waterways. (resulting in fertilizer runoff)  The plant matter rots to release nutrients and utilizes oxygen at the same time.

Lithosphere  Storm runoff (hydrosphere) and erosion (Lithosphere) interact to contribute to poor water quality.

Hydrosphere  Storm water is from the hydrosphere  It is contaminated by the chemicals in the sediment such as sulfur, parasites, carbon, and much more.

Why is Water Quality Important?  Water resources are very valuable  If the water quality keeps declining, it looses its value.  The water provides many habitats

What effects the Quality of Our Water? Water quality is closely linked the surrounding environment, but that is not always the case. Other things can effect the water like pH, salinity, SAV, dissolved oxygen, and plenty more.

Lake Drummond Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Secchi Depth (cm) Water depth (cm) DO (mg) pH Salinity (ppt) Wind Speed (knots) Wind direction SWSESE Air temp. (Celsius) Water temp. (Celsius)

Conclusion In conclusion, ALL spheres of the Earth affect water quality. It is our responsibility to do as much as we can to prevent reprehensible water quality.

Recommendations  Biosphere Ways that we can improve our living habits Ways that we can improve our living habits RecyclingRecycling Stop litteringStop littering CarpoolCarpool  Lithosphere Ways to prevent runoff Ways to prevent runoff Leave forest and vegetation undisturbedLeave forest and vegetation undisturbed Sediment netsSediment nets Soil and water conservation practicesSoil and water conservation practices Farm pondsFarm ponds Strip croppingStrip cropping

Recommendations (continued)  Atmosphere Less thermal pollution Less thermal pollution Less factory use Less factory use  Hydrosphere Regular water quality check-ups Regular water quality check-ups

Reflections  This project was extremely informative.  We’ve learned the importance of water quality to our community. As well as, what we can do to improve it.  We’ve also learned that storms have a little part in runoff and pollution, and this effects ALL spheres.  Thanks to this project, we can inform others that this issue is of great importance.

hurr.html A special thanks to: Dr. Jim Botti Mrs. Wiggins Dr. Porter Mrs. Nobles Dr. Rossbach Mrs. Stamper Mrs. Harris Burroughs Wellcome Fund