Oldham Pond study - Lab Report Example

Oldham Pond study Introduction Lakes and ponds are valuable water resources usefully for transportation, fishing, agriculture, recreation and habit for a myriad of organisms. These water bodies also provide water for domestic and industrial use (Duan, et al. 295). However, the quality of water bodies is affected by various factors and the status of water bodies is used in their classification. Trophic State Index (TSI) of a lake or pond is described based on three parameters: phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, secchi depth and the total phosphorous in the water during the summer (Xu, et al. 2). Trophic state is considered as an indicator of the biotic productivity and is used in the classification of aquatic ecosystems. Based on the trophic state of a water body, it is either classified oligotrophic or eutrophic. Lake eutrophication is described as the variation in the chemical properties of water caused by accumulation of excessive nutrients; mostly nitrogen and phosphorus (Le, et al 662). Lake Eutrophication is a by-product of light, hydrodynamics and heat that result from physical, chemical, and biological processes (Le et al. 662). Eutrophication leads to increased production of phytoplankton and the worsening of water quality. This is a descriptive paper on the present physic-chemical conditions of Oldham Pond using data on various parameters collected on 4th February, 2012 and another data set collected on 25th February, 2012. This will be used to determine the trophic state of the pond. Study Area Data was collected from Oldham Pond which is a 235 acre natural pond located in an urban area in two towns, Pembroke and Hanson. The sources of water for the pond are a small tributary, wetlands areas and cranberry bogs of Herring Brook and drains into Furnace Pond. The pond has a 2.8 mile shoreline which includes residential houses and summer camp. It has an average depth of 10 feet while the deepest point in the pond is 15 feet. Geographically, the pond is at latitude of 42.06701 N and 70.83644 W. The data set was collected from the SW shore, N. Haledon at an interval of three weeks; the first data being collected being collected on 4th February, 2012 and the second data was collected on 25th February, 2012. The study area is shown in figure 1 in the appendices page. Data collection method The data collected was on temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, Ph and the total alkalinity. Moreover, the prevailing weather conditions were noted including the temperature and the wind conditions. During the first visit, data was taken on at the surface and at a depth of one meter. In addition to the two depths where the parameters were measured from in the first visit, the second study included measurement of the parameters at the bottom of the pond. Equipment with the ability of measuring Ph, conductivity, temperature and dissolve oxygen at once was used. As noted by Stephens et al (431) measuring of Ph, temperature and conductivity give the best results when carried out at the sampling point using portable equipments Results Physical results The physical results taken include the temperature of the water and weather conditions. Temperature in the surrounding environment was found to be 2.80 C during the first visit 5.00 C during the second visit. This temperature was taken to eliminate the probability that this temperature does not affect the water temperatures. In physic-chemical temperatures temperature should not be taken at the surface since this could be affect by the mixing in the pond. A temperature within a range of 5 degrees was observed in the first reading. In the second visit the temperature at the bottom and at I meter was 5.2 while it was 6.1 at the surface. This variation is with the expected range given mixing in the pond. Dissolved oxygen during the initial visit was 11.13 mg/l at the surface while at 1 meter deep it was at 9.5. On the second visit the levels had relatively stabilized at 11.13 mg/l and 11.4 at the surface. This was also within the normal range. Chemical results The values for conductivity varied between the first visit where they were found to be 335 but in the second visit they dropped to 297 uS at the surface and 293 uS at the bottom at a 1 meter deep. Conductivity results are an indicator of the nutrients available in water (Stephens et al 433). The Ph on both occasion cases was relatively stable with the first visit getting a Ph of 8 while in the second visit; it ranged from 7.5 to 8 for data collected from surface to the bottom of the pond. High Ph values are an indicator of alkalinity in water due to presence of carbonates and bicarbonates while low a low Ph indicates acidity. Water should have a Ph of seven since it is neutral but due to interaction with the geologic formation of the area a higher level could be opposed (An, Kwang-guk, and Seok Soon Park 267). Discussion The small deviations in the Ph and temperatures that were observed during the assessment indicate agreement with the spring season conditions when the tests were conducted. Higher temperatures at surface are attributable to the heating from sun (Le et al 662). As described earlier, Oldham is not stratified and therefore the results observed at 1meter deep are equal to those at the bottom. There were high levels of conductivity during the first visit which can be blamed by discharge of chemicals containing P, Cl, and N since the area surrounding area is highly developed and therefore effluents from domestic water may add nutrients to the lake. During the second this figure was lower meaning the source of the elements leading to high conductivity are anthropogenic (Stephens et al 433). High conductivity indicates that there are high nutrients in the pond which is an indication that it is eutrophic. Moreover, the level of dissolved oxygen is high which shows that the level of phytoplankton is high and during the photosynthetic process, they release oxygen which gets dissolved in the pond. Summary Physic-chemical properties of water can be used as an indicator of the trophic state of a water body. High levels of dissolve oxygen backed by high conductivity values indicates that the level of eutrophication in the lake or pond is high and this is also interpreted in relation to the economic activities taking place near the water body or within its catchment. High dissolved oxygen in eutrophic ponds results from the phytoplankton which in the process of photosynthesis; releases oxygen as it takes up carbon dioxide. On the other hand, high conductivity is attributed to positively charged nitrate and phosphate ions in the water. Eutrophication of Oldham is linked to anthropogenic sources given the dense settlement around the pond’s shoreline. This may be non-point or point sources of chemicals that result in eutrophication of the pond. Non point sources include the chemicals that are carried into the pond by runoffs while point sources are those that are attributable from a specific source such as industrial effluents. Residential facilities cause eutrophication by release of domestic effluents such as the ones used in cleaning that are known to contain high levels of phosphorous. Moreover, if the sewage effluents are released without having being treated, they lead to eutrophication. This is ruled out in the case of Oldham since in such cases; dissolved oxygen level would be low as it would be used up by the aerobic micro-organisms breaking down this waste. Work cited An, Kwang-guk, and Seok Soon Park. "Influence of Seasonal Monsoon on the Trophic State Deviation in an Asian Reservoir." Water, Air and Soil Pollution 145.1-4 (2003): 267-87. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Duan, Hongtao, et al. "Assessment of Chlorophyll-a Concentration and Trophic State for Lake Chagan using Landsat TM and Field Spectral Data." Environmental monitoring and assessment 129.1-3 (2007): 295-308. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Le, C., et al. "Eutrophication of Lake Waters in China: Cost, Causes, and Control." Environmental management 45.4 (2010): 662-8. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Stephens, W. W., et al. "Considerations for Assessments of Wadable Drainage Systems in the Agriculturally Dominated Deltas of Arkansas and Mississippi." Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 55.3 (2008): 432-41. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Xu, Yaoyang, et al. "Factors Regulating Trophic Status in a Large Subtropical Reservoir, China." Environmental monitoring and assessment 169.1-4 (2010): 237-48. ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 16 Mar. 2012. Appendices Figure 1 showing a map of the Oldham Pond. SW Shore, Oldham Pond, N. Haledon NJ Trace Winds; 10:30 A.M. Date: February 4, 2012; 2.8°C air temp Table 1 showing Physic-chemical results during the first visit Surface 1 meter depth Temp °C 5.4 5.0 D.O. mg/L 11.13 9.5 Conductivity uS 335 335 (as per electronic measurement) pH~~8.0 Total Alkalinity: 1) 8.2mlx10= 82.0 2)8.1mlx10= 81.0 SW Shore, Oldham Pond, N. Haledon NJ Windy (wind advisory sunny); 10:30 A.M. February 25, 2012; 5.0°C air temp Table 2 showing Physic-chemical results during the second visit Surface Bottom 1 meter depth Temp °C 6.1 5.2 5.2 D.O. mg/L 11.4 .13 11.3 Conductivity uS 297 293 293 (as per electronic measurement) pH~~7.5-8.0 Total Alkalinity: 1) 8.0mlx10= 80.0 2)7.4mlx10= 74.0 Read More