NRES 251 Final Exam

Turbidity

cloudiness of water

Specific conductance

measure of the ability of water to conduct an electrical current - measure of salt

Thalweg

the deep part of a channel where most flow occurs

Hardness of water

The condition of water which results from dissolved minerals and metallic ions such as calcium and magnesium.

sinuosity

The quality of curving in and out of a river - how wavy a river is

alkalinity

having a pH greater than 7

bankfull depth

-average depth measured at Bankfull Discharge

bankfull discharge

the amount of discharge at which the stream channel is full

bankfull width

width of the stream between the highest set of banks

Eutrophication

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

pH

hydrogen ion concentration

flood stage

The level at which stream discharge begins to spill out of the channel into the surrounding area.

Secchi Disk

A flat, white disc lowered into the water by a rope until it is barely visible. Measures the clarity of the water.

Baseflow

Groundwater flow that feeds into rivers through river banks and river beds

Stream discharge

the volume of water passing a point along the river in a unit of time.

Dissolved oxygen

oxygen dissolved in water, dissolved oxygen is important for fish and other aquatic animals

Watershed

The land area that supplies water to a river system.

Biological oxygen demand

The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose biological wastes into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals.

water use efficiency

the ratio of carbon fixed (photosynthesis) per unit of water lost (transpiration)

Water uses

household purposes, agriculture, industry, transportation and recreation

Lake types

oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic

oligotrophic lake

A nutrient-poor, clear, deep lake with minimum phytoplankton.

mesotrophic lake

Lake with a moderate supply of plant nutrients.

eutrophic lake

Lake with a large or excessive supply of plant nutrients, mostly nitrates and phosphates.

meandering stream

a stream with a channel that curves or loops back and forth on a wide floodplain

USLE

universal soil loss equation: A= RK(LS)(CP); avg annual soil loss is a function of rainfall erosive index, R; soil erodibility factor, K; topographic factor, Length of Slope; cropping management, C; and erosion control practice, P.

stream morphology

Meanders: curves in rivers
Oxbow lake: lakes formed alongside rivers from meanders

Critical oxygen concentration

minimum dissolved oxygen for something to survive in the water

erosion

the process of eroding or being eroded by wind, water, or other natural agents.

retention time

amount of time a compound spends in stationary phase

water quality

the chemical, biological, and physical status of a body of water

stream order

a measure of the relative size of streams