River Run Water Quality Questions

www.uncw.edu/riverrun/

Complete the following questions using The Data Visualization Tool, River Run.  HINTS are given to help locate data and answer questions.  Use this tool to explore your knowledge of water properties.

 

ŕ Is there a relationship between the amount of rain and the turbidity of the water?

If yes, what is the relationship?

HINT: look at CFR and click “Plot multiple dates at one site”, select NC11 site, look at March 1998.  Select “Rain Data” to view the amount of rain received that month (hold the cursor over the rain clouds to determine the amount of rain received)

 

 

Is this true for both rivers?

Is this what you predicted?   Why or why not?

 

ŕ Describe the relationship between Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen.

            HINT: look at CFR and click “Plot multiple dates at one site”, select NAV site, look at the dates at this site

Water temperature is important to everyone and everything around it – swimmers, fisherman, industries, and even fish and algae. Power plants that generate electricity use large amounts of water for cooling purposes. They need cool water to start with, and generally warmer water is released back to the environment. The temperature of the released water can affect downstream habitats by changing the overall water temperature. Temperature also can affect the ability of water to hold oxygen, which would mean a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels.

            Do nitrate and phosphate exhibit this relationship?

            HINT: the “XY Plot Parameters” need to be changed

Is this what you predicted?   Why or why not?

 

ŕ What is the relationship between the amount of rain and the dissolved oxygen and Temperature of the water?

Is this relationship the same during the winter and summer?

Is this what you predicted?   Why or why not?

 

ŕ Compare fecal coliform and turbidity on the Cape Fear River (NAV site).

What is the relationship between these two parameters?

HINT:look at CFR and click “Plot multiple dates at one site”, observe the following sites: NC11, AC, and NAV. Look at the following dates: March 1998, September 1998, and January 1999.

Is this what you predicted?   Why or why not?

Do these patterns remain consistent throughout the different months of the year?


Is this relationship the same for the Northeast Cape Fear River?


HINT: look at NECFR and click “Plot multiple dates at one site”, observe the NCF117 site and look at the following dates: March 1998, September 1998, January 1999

Does rain have an impact on the relationship between these two parameters?

HINT: Check out the Rain Data