L4 Flashcards
Point bar
Alluvial deposit that specifically accumulates on the inside of a streambed
Degree day
The mean temp: standard temp
Higher latitudes…
Have fewer degree days
Degree days groundwater
Constant (0)
Stenotherms:
Species with very specific temp requirements (ex: cold = brook trout, warm= pumpkinseed sunfish)
DO solubility
Increases as temp decreases, decreases as atmosphere pressure deceases
Areas of lower DO
- upwelling of interstitial areas from hypnosis zone
- deeper areas don’t mix with surface water
- microbial activity is high in detritus
Areas of higher DO
- Downstream of riffles (mechanical aeration)
- slow flowing regions with high algae concentrations
Oxygen saturation
Measure of concentration of oxygen that’s dissolved or carried by water as a proportion of the maximum concentration that can be dissolved in water at that temp and pressure
Biological oxygen demand (BOD)
Amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and other microorganisms while they decompose organic matter
Where does (BOD) occur?
- Human ov animal waste
- abundance of decaying plant matter
Hypoxia
Where oxygen concentrations are so low they are fatal
Anoxic
Areas of water that are depleted of dissolved oxygen and disrupt ecosystem balance
Eutrophication
Overly enriched body of water that excessively grow algae and produces large amounts of carbon dioxide
4 major cations
- Na+
- K+
- Ca+
- Mg+
4 major ions
- HCO3-
- (CO3)-2
- (SO4)2-
- Cl-
Conductivity
Measure of the total dissolved ions, and is measured by electrical conductance.
pH
Measure of hydrogen ions, from acid to alkaline
Alkalinity
The measure of compounds that shift the pH into alkaline range
How is alkalinity controlled?
The amount of bicarbonate and carbonate in the soils and water
“Buffering” capacity
Acid neutralizing capacity is an unfettered measure of the capacity of the solutes and particulates to neutralize acid
What causes variation in pH?
-Natural geology and organic acids
- acid rain
- landuse
Humic acid
Leaf juice that turns water brown
