Water Quality Flashcards
microscopic bubbles of gaseous oxygen mixed in water and available to aquatic organisms for respiration
Dissolved Oxygen
a physical property that measures the heat in an object compared with a standard. In substances with a higher temperature, molecules have greater average kinetic energy. As temperature decreases, the average kinetic energy of the molecules also decreases.
Temperature
a measure of how acidic or how basic (alkaline) a liquid is;
pH
a measure of how clear water is
Turbidity
an organism used to monitor the health of an ecosystem
Bioindicators
a measure of how suitable water may be for drinking
Potability
chemical compounds needed for organisms to survive, create DNA and energy distribution; enter water systems from fertilizers, sewage, manure runoff, natural deposits
nitrates
Chemical compounds needed for organisms to survive; enter water systems from human and animal waste, laundry, cleaning and industry discharge.
Phosphates
waste matter such as water or human urine or solid waste; the system carrying away waste water and human waste from houses and other buildings through large underground pipes or passages.
Sewage
process when too many nitrate and phosphate compounds build up in water systems, causing algal blooms which use up all nutrients and space resulting in reduced dissolved oxygen in the water. The decrease in dissolved oxygen kills all other organisms in the body of water.
Eutrophication
Which process would MOST LIKELY increase the dissolved oxygen level in a freshwater lake?
A. Algae bloom
B. Lake turnover
C. Photosynthesis
D. respiration
C. Photosynthesis
Why should farmers be concerned about unused nitrates contaminating water supplies?
A. Unused nitrates reduce algae growth
B. Unused nitrates increase oxygen in water
C. Excessive amounts of nutrients cause overpopulation of fish
D. Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up eutrophication
D. Excessive amounts of nutrients speed up eutrophication
Which groundwater contaminant contained in fertilizers and pesticides comes from farms?
A. Bacteria
B. Mercury
C. Nitrates
D. Sodium
C. Nitrates
Which would be the MOST LIKELY cause of large numbers of fish dying in a stream ?
A. A lack of nitrogen
B. High levels of mercury
C. Decreased carbon dioxide
D. Low dissolved oxygen concentration
D. Low dissolved oxygen concentration
Which would lead to the greatest reduction of dissolved oxygen in a lake?
A. Decreased number of fish in the lake
B. Increased number of fish in the lake
C. Increased nutrients and algal blooms
D. Decreased number of plants surrounding the lake
C. Increased nutrients and algal blooms