Water Quality Flashcards
Acidity
The amount of acid in the water.
algal bloom
A rapid growth of algae makes a layer on the top of the ocean
Aquatic
Anything that has to do with water, Like an aquatic plant or animal
Biodiversity
The amount of organisms in the water
Bioindicator
An organism (animal) that helps scientists asses the water.
Decomposition
The process with dead plants and animals breaks down.
eutrophication (OPTIONAL)
- Water gets to much nutrients phosphates and nitrates
- can be good or bad
- can lead to an algea bloom
- can be due to runoff
Deforestation
- humans cut down trees.
- Affect: sentiment runs into the water more because there is nothing to stop it because the trees would have stopped it.
Fertilizer
- Fertilizers used in agriculture/ growing plants
- Nitrogen and phosphates and carbon dioxide are found in fertilizers
field study
Data collected from the outside
Nitrate
- Nitrates are nutrients
- To much can caus a algal bloom
- can be good or bad
non-point source pollution
pollution that can not be traced to one location
pH
The amount of acidity in the water
point source pollution
pollution that can be traced to one location
remote sensing
● Definition: the collection of data from a distance
Runoff
Water from rain and snow that can’t be absorbed into the ground so it eventually move into the oceans and lakes water and can pick up chemicals on the way such as fertilizer.
Secchi disk
a device used to measure turbidity
Sewage
Wastewater that comes from homes, anything that comes from showers, toilets, etc.
Turbidity
a measure of the cloudiness of water
water quality
● Definition: The chemical, biological, and physical status of a body of water.
● Factors tested include
○ amount of oxygen
○ amount of nutrients such as nitrate and phosphates
○ type and number of organisms living in the water
○ the amount of sediment in the water
○ Temperature
○ Acidity
