The Examination of Streamflow from an Ice Covered Pond

Presented By:

OUTLINE• Introduction

– Background information• Hypothesis• Methods• Results

– Examining streamflow in relation to ice cover thickness– Evaluating the usefulness of the melting degree-day

relationship with runoff– Investigating radiation/temperature in relation to

streamflow generation– Assessing the water quality of Stong Pond and its change

during icemelt

INTRODUCTION

• This investigation is designed to determine several variables and correlations between such variables by examining streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond

• Once these variables are analyzed and graphed to illustrate their relation with one another, a conclusion can be drawn on how streamflow and icemelt on an ice covered pond affect various aspects of the surrounding environment

INTRODUCTION• Streamflow

– Streamflow is the main mechanism by which water moves from the land to the oceans.

– Runoff of water in channels is responsible for transport of sediment, nutrients, and pollution downstream.

• Conductivity– Conductivity measures the ability of water to conduct an electrical

current. A stream’s conductivity is directly proportional to the concentrations and types of positively and negatively charged ions present.

– Sources of ions are both naturally occurring and anthropogenic in origin, and include soil, bedrock, human and animal waste, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and road salt

HYPOTHESIS

• Through a one-week investigation on the examination of streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond, it is evident that there should be many relationships and correlations between stream discharge and other variables such as runoff, radiation, temperature and water quality.

METHODS

• Each of the six groups analyzed various factors of the pond on their assigned date/time.

• These include:– Stream Discharge (ice melt)

• Tape measure, stop watch, fishing bobber, meter stick– Conductivity (water quality)

• Conductivity Meter– Pond Ice Depth (ice melt)

• Ice Corer, Meter Stick

METHODS

Pond Discharge flowing from the stream

Streamflow from Stong PondNotice potential runoff

METHODS

Potential Runoff availability Thinning ice soon to be contributing to discharge

METHODS

View of icemelt from SW side of Stong Pond View of Stong Pond from the SW side

RESULTS

Evidently, there is no noticeable logical correlation between the two variables

As ice thickness increases, discharge also increases which must mean that there are other factors involved

One of the most obvious factors is of course snowmelt and runoff from the nearby snow banks along with meltwater

RESULTS

These two graphs show apparent correlation with one another

As degree-day increases steadily, discharge also increases quite significantly

Common sense tells us that this just looks as it should, however there are other comparisons that did not turn out the same way

Solving for the empirical coefficient, b

• ΔM/Δt = b(Ta-To)Δt– Δt on each side (cancel out)

• ΔM = b(Ta-To)• 0.13m/5hrs = b(0.9˚C - 0.1˚C)• b = 0.026m/0.8˚C• b = 0.0325m/˚C (Feb. 23/07)

• 0.01m/˚C (average of the 6 days)

RESULTS

Despite what one may think, theredoes not seem to be any distinctcorrelation between stream discharge and incoming solarradiation

Since the pond and surrounding area is covered in snow, the albedo would be significantly high enough to justify this trend

RESULTS

This correlation is quite possibly the most obvious and best thus far

Unlike incoming radiation, temperature has a direct impact on the discharge from the pond

Although the similarities are substantial, there are times where the temperature falls near or on 0˚C, however discharge is still relatively high

RESULTS

During the course of icemelt, the water quality changes and does not seem to be independent of streamflow generation

Notice how conductivity increases significantly for higher flows and is lower for lower flows

DISCUSSION

• Through in an in depth analysis of streamflow (discharge), it is evident that this variable is the most consistent in having correlations with other variables (shown in results)

• Also, it appears that runoff is in fact the variable that is most responsible for transport of sediment, nutrients, and mainly pollution downstream

DISCUSSION

• Although there is not substantial information collected or derived from the data to come to any conclusions, there seem to be noticeable trends in the results as aforementioned

• ‘The High Albedoes’® refuse to face defeat and will find any sense and relationship between any data thrown at them

CONCLUSION

• Through a one-week investigation on the examination of streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond, it is evident that there are in fact few correlations between stream discharge and other variables such as runoff, temperature and water quality with the most significant being runoff.

THANK YOU!!

• Questions???