Physical and Chemical Processes in Streams

Question 1

What is the normal pH in rainwater

Answer 1

pH 5.6

Question 2

What is the pH in acidic rainwater?

Answer 2

acid rain, pH 2.1-2.8

Question 3

What is the affect of riparian vegetation on rainwater?

Answer 3

Terrestrial and soil can significantly reduce nutrients in the rainwater that end up in streams
It reduces inputs of nitrate, potassium, and phosphorous

Question 4

Which bedrocks have low and high buffering capacity? And what does it mean for the streams?

Answer 4

Granite and sandstone have a low buffering capacity
Limestone has a high buffering capacity which neutralises pH on a stream.

Question 5

What are the 2 types of flow characteristics?

Answer 5

Current velocity – speed of a particle moving past a point in the stream channel
Measured in (m / s)
Discharge – volume of water moving down the channel past a given point per unit time
Measured in (m3 / s)

Question 6

What is the definition of current velocity?

Answer 6

speed of a particle moving past a point in the stream channel
Measured in (m / s)

Question 7

What is the definition of discharge?

Answer 7

volume of water moving down the channel past a given point per unit time
Measured in (m3 / s)

Question 8

In terms of annual hydrographs there are 6 type of streams, name 3.

Answer 8

Intermittent: Streams that sometime go dry
Harsh intermittent: Streams that go dry and wet really quickly
Mesic Groundwater: Stable streams
Perennial flashy: Streams that do not go dry, but amount of water varies a lot
Snowmelt: Streams that are fed by snowmelt so there is more water in the spring/summer
Winter rain: Streams that are fed by rainwater, so they have more water in the winter during the rainy season

Question 9

What are the 4 major physical factors in a stream?

Answer 9

1. Oxygen
2. Temperature
3. Light
4. Substrate type

Question 10

What does turbulent flow does to oxygen?

Answer 10

Turbulent flow increases dissolved oxygen

Question 11

What is the relationship between oxygen and temperature?

Answer 11

Oxygen solubility in water is negatively correlated with temperature
This means higher temperature streams has less dissolved oxygen
It can limit some organisms to cold streams

Question 12

What are the a major factors that determine the temperature in streams?

Answer 12

Riperian vegetation, continentality, and groundwater

Question 13

What is the normal oxygen levels, temperature, light, and substrate size for upstream and downstream?

Answer 13

Oxygen: High -> Low
Temperature: Low -> High
Light: Low -> High
Substrate size: Large -> Small

Question 14

Who wrote the “EFFECTS OF FOREST CUTTING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT ON NUTRIENT BUDGETS IN THE HUBBARD BROOK WATERSHED-ECOSYSTEM” and when?

Answer 14

Gene E. Likens in 1970