water chemistry by lucas kirby, cynthia watson, meghan dye and stephanie johnson

Water Chemistry

By Lucas Kirby, Cynthia Watson, Meghan Dye and Stephanie

Johnson

Importance of Phosphorus in Lakes

Limiting nutrient in freshwater systemsRedfield ratioHigh concentrations may be indicative of eutrophication

Oneida LakeLargest land-locked lake in NYSShallow, well mixed lakeMean depth of 6.8mEutrophicOver 100 species of algae

Onondaga LakeOne of the most polluted lakes in the U.S.4.6 mi long, 1 mi wide~10.6 m deepSyracuse METRO plant contributes 20% of annual inflowHypereutrophic(>100 µg/L)

Green LakeSmall surface area (glacial plunge pool), formed by waterfall~52 m deepOligotrophicHard waterMeromictic Permanent chemocline

Arbutus and Rich LakesMax. depth:

Arbutus: 8 mRich: 18 m

Area Arbutus: 49 haRich: 160 ha

Archer Creek Catchment (130 ha) drains into Arbutus Lake

MethodsCollecting Samples

Kemmerer bottle1L from epi-, meta- and

hypo- Mixed Reagent- in specific order (for 150ml)

Ammonium molybdate solution- 30mlSulfuric Acid- 75mlAscorbic Acid- 30mlPotassium antimonyl-tartrate solution- 15ml

Standard SolutionDuplicate solutions 50ml of DI waterColor blank5ml Mixed Reagent

Unknown SolutionTwo Replicates- 50 ml sample5ml Mixed Reagents

Calculate for Unknown Phosphorus

Average ReplicatesGraph- Standard Absorbance v. Standard ConcentrationCalculate Slopeμmol-1-1 = (sample abs-reagent blank abs-color blank abs)* slope

ResultsWater Chemistry: Phosphorus Concentration

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 5 10 15

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

De

pth

(m

)

Arbutus

Green

Oneida

Onondaga

Rich

Discussion Oneida Lake

Second highest phosphorus level.Measured lake depth around 6 metersLake mixes through summer. Oxygenated hypolimnion

Water Chemistry: Phosphorus Concentration Oneida Lake

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

Dep

th (

m)

DiscussionOnondaga Lake

Highest level of P.Anoxic bottom waters Iron releases P. P Decreases with decrease depth.

Water Chemistry: Phosphorus Concentration Onondaga Lake

0

5

10

15

20

0 5 10 15

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

Dep

th (

m)

Discussion Green Lake

Lowest P level of all lakesLowest P epilimnion, organisms use what ever P available.Increases approx. at thermoclineDecreases again at hypolimnion Increase below chemocline

Water Chemistry: Phosphorus Concentration Green Lake

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

Dep

th (

m)

Discussion Arbutus Lake

Shallow mixed lakeLow productivityOxygenated hypolimnion

Water Chemistry: Phosphorus Concentration Arbutus Lake

0

2

4

6

8

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

Dep

th (

m)

Discussion Rich Lake

Medium depth but mixes often. Low productivity Oxygenated hypolimnion.

Water Chemsitry: Phosphorus Concentration Rich Lake

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Phosphorus Concentration (uM)

Dep

th (

m)

Other Measurements-Nitrogen-Silica-Iron, Fe+3

ReferencesCirmo, Chris Ph.D. 2005. http://web.cortland.eduCouncil on hydrologic systems science. Biogeochemical and Hydrological Research at the Huntington Forest. www.esf.edu/hss/HuntingtonForestOverview.htm New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. 2005. http://nysparks.state.ny.usOneida Lake Association. 1998. http://web.a-znet.com/~ola/index.htmlOnondaga Lake Improvement Project. 2005. http://www.lake.onondaga.ny.us/index.htmUpstate Freshwater Institute. 2005. http://www.upstatefreshwater.org/index.html