Description

1. Hydrology (25 pts.): Consider the Vermilion River, IL site as shown in Fig. 1. Imagery was not available for the site in August. Name and describe the primary reservoirs and fluxes of water important to this site and note how energy would be transferred via the hydrologic cycle. How would these fluxes influence the shape of the hydrograph (Fig. 2)? Would the fluxes differ in August as compared to March? Explain in detail. 2. Physiochemical Properties of Water (25 pts.): Construct time-series plots of temperature, specific conductance (SpCond), and dissolved oxygen (DO) for both August and March. The two series can be plotted on the same graph if you select “Day” for your x-axis data rather than “Date & Time”. Make sure to appropriately scale and label the axes and data series. Import your plots into your exam document as PDFs or images and give each figure a title (as modeled by Figs. 1-2 in this assignment). What are SpCond and DO? Explain what high or low measurements of either would indicate. Use evidence from your plots to discuss how water temperature and/or streamflow influences either parameter. Describe one more physiochemical property of water and how it could be influenced by temperature. 3. Water Quality (25 pts.): Please choose either turbidity OR reactive nitrogen (nitrate + nitrite) to focus on as your water quality parameter in this prompt. Identify and describe an analytical technique used for quantifying your water quality parameter. Generate a time-series plot of your water quality parameter with series for both August and March and import the figure to your assignment document (following the instructions from #2). Discuss your observations (i.e., trends, minima, maxima, etc.). Describe two likely sources of the pollutant related to your water quality parameter to the Vermilion River and identify whether they are point sources or non-point sources. How does this pollutant impact water quality? Explain either one biotic (ecological) or abiotic (physical) consequence to surface water in detail. 4. Carbon Cycle (25 pts.): Take a look at the pH data (you do not need to include a plot for this in your response document). Would you say that the Vermilion River has a high or low buffering capacity? Justify your answer. Refer to your DO time-series plot from #2 and discuss whether (and how) the carbon cycle influences the shape of the curve. Does the carbon cycle play a role in the river’s natural buffering system? Explain. I just need the responses to be in paragraph form so if all four paragraphs total a page that would be fine. the due date is tomorrow at 2pm.