Unit C: 2.0 - 3.0 Flashcards
Why might lakes become cloudy in the summer?
Excessive algal growth
What can clear water sometimes indicate?
High acidity
Who sets guidelines for water quality?
Provincial and federal guidelines
What are the five classifications that water is used for?
Human drinking water Recreation such a swimming Livestock drinking water Irrigation Protection of aquatic life
What are biological indicators?
Organisms in the water that can help determine water quality
What are some biological indicators?
Fish, plants, worms, insects, plankton, Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses
What are microbiological indicators?
Microscopic organisms such as bacteria
How does bacteria affect water quality?
They can cause serious health problems if they are present in large numbers
How do scientist use microbiological indicators to measure water quality?
They frequently take samples and if the samples have to much bacteria in them then they require extra treatment
How do scientists use aquatic invertebrates to measure water quality?
Different invertebrates need different water quality so they see which kind of invertebrates there are
What are invertebrates?
Insects without back bones
What are the types of invertebrates that live in water?
Crustaceans, worms, mollusks and insects
Finish the sentence: The diversity of organisms decreases as acidity ….
Increases
What are the most commonly monitored indicators of water quality?
Dissolved oxygen Acidity Heavy Metals Plant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus Pesticides Salts
What is the concentration of chemicals usually measured in?
Parts per million or ppm. Or milligrams per liter
How many zeros does 1 million have?
6
What does the level of dissolved oxygen depend on?
Temperature
Turbulence
Amount of photosynthesis
Number of organisms using the water
How does photosynthesis affect dissolved oxygen?
Decreased oxygen levels
How does the number of organisms using the water affect the oxygen?
Decreased oxygen level
How can phosphorus and nitrogen enter water bodies?
Sewage pitfalls and run off
What happens if there is increased growth of algae due to phosphorus and nitrogen?
The more algae and plants grow the more that die. The dead plants become food for bacteria and bacteria increases in number and use all the oxygen
What is the ph level of normal rain and snow?
5.6 because carbon dioxide dissolves in it
What ph level is acid precipitation?
Anything lower than 5.6
What is acidic deposition?
When the thin soils and chemical composition of rocks cannot neutralize acids rain
What is spring acid shock?
When acid precipitation deposits build up in ice and snow in winter then in spring when it melts it flows into water systems