Isp 217l
Water and the Environment Laboratory ISP 217L Spring 2011 Laboratory Manual*
Table of Contents
Exercise Lab 1. How much does temperature vary in large and small aquatic environments? Lab 2. What determines the water clarity of lakes, rivers and oceans? Lab 3. Where does the phosphorus go? Lab 4. How does human activity in watersheds affect the quality of lakes and rivers? Lab 5. Are the Great Lakes being influenced by the global greenhouse effect? Lab 6. How is the flow of the Red Cedar River influenced by the weather? Lab 7. What is the relationship between flow and turbidity in the Red Cedar River? Page 2 4 6 8 12 15 18
* Note that the Excel Manual is a separate booklet.
Revised 12/10 JDW
ISP217L Laboratory Manual Spring 2011
Page 1
Lab 1 How much does temperature vary in large and small aquatic environments?
Introduction One of the most important physical properties of water, with respect to aquatic environments, is specific heat. Water has a high specific heat, which means that it takes a relatively large amount of energy to raise the temperature of water, much more energy than is needed to raise air temperature by the same amount. This physical property has consequences for the amount of temperature variation we might expect in and around aquatic environments. The central question of interest in this exercise is how the size of an aquatic habitat influences the degree of temperature variation within it. Objectives After completing this lab, you should be able to calculate the mean (average) and standard deviation of a range of data in a spreadsheet, and make plots of temperature over time. You should also gain a hands-on appreciation for how temperature varies in water versus air, and in large versus small volumes of water. Ultimately, we hope you will gain a better understanding of how large bodies of water influence the climate of nearby regions. Tools The Lab 1 exercise will span two weeks; it is important to keep in mind that both
Table of Contents
Exercise Lab 1. How much does temperature vary in large and small aquatic environments? Lab 2. What determines the water clarity of lakes, rivers and oceans? Lab 3. Where does the phosphorus go? Lab 4. How does human activity in watersheds affect the quality of lakes and rivers? Lab 5. Are the Great Lakes being influenced by the global greenhouse effect? Lab 6. How is the flow of the Red Cedar River influenced by the weather? Lab 7. What is the relationship between flow and turbidity in the Red Cedar River? Page 2 4 6 8 12 15 18
* Note that the Excel Manual is a separate booklet.
Revised 12/10 JDW
ISP217L Laboratory Manual Spring 2011
Page 1
Lab 1 How much does temperature vary in large and small aquatic environments?
Introduction One of the most important physical properties of water, with respect to aquatic environments, is specific heat. Water has a high specific heat, which means that it takes a relatively large amount of energy to raise the temperature of water, much more energy than is needed to raise air temperature by the same amount. This physical property has consequences for the amount of temperature variation we might expect in and around aquatic environments. The central question of interest in this exercise is how the size of an aquatic habitat influences the degree of temperature variation within it. Objectives After completing this lab, you should be able to calculate the mean (average) and standard deviation of a range of data in a spreadsheet, and make plots of temperature over time. You should also gain a hands-on appreciation for how temperature varies in water versus air, and in large versus small volumes of water. Ultimately, we hope you will gain a better understanding of how large bodies of water influence the climate of nearby regions. Tools The Lab 1 exercise will span two weeks; it is important to keep in mind that both