Coastal Storms and Coastal Storms and Water QualityWater Quality

Created and presented by:Created and presented by:

Alicia McPherson, Tracie Twine, Alicia McPherson, Tracie Twine, Amanda Richardson, and Gretchen DavilaAmanda Richardson, and Gretchen Davila

For years, the Pasquotank area has been paying EPA tons of money

because of farm and storm runoff. Even though we have new businesses, docks

and boat facilities, people are still concerned about activities on the

watershed.

Problem StatementProblem Statement

What is the relationship of storms to the What is the relationship of storms to the decline of water quality in the Pasquotank decline of water quality in the Pasquotank

area?area?

What Causes A Storm?What Causes A Storm? Storms occur from the Storms occur from the

interactions among interactions among the earth’s spheres. the earth’s spheres.

Typically the Typically the atmosphere and atmosphere and hydrosphere. hydrosphere.

Storms usually have Storms usually have conditions like warm conditions like warm water and moist, water and moist, humid and combined humid and combined with low air pressure. with low air pressure.

Types of Storms Effecting Our AreaTypes of Storms Effecting Our Area

HurricanesHurricanes TornadosTornados Hail stormsHail storms ThunderstormsThunderstorms Nor’eastersNor’easters

Hurricanes are strong wind storms, which are cyclonic in nature. This means that

they revolve around a central point, which is known as an 'eye'. The eye is the

calmest part in the storm, while the winds raging around the storm have reached a

speed of 119 km an hour! The winds rotate in an anti-clockwise direction in the

northern hemisphere, and in a clockwise

direction in the southern hemisphere.

What Are Hurricanes?What Are Hurricanes?

How Are Hurricanes Formed?How Are Hurricanes Formed? Hurricanes are Hurricanes are

formed in formed in tropical, ocean tropical, ocean areas. areas.

The warm air The warm air above the ocean above the ocean begins to rise, begins to rise, and as it rises, it and as it rises, it condenses and condenses and forms clouds forms clouds and rain and rain droplets. droplets.

Thunder and LighteningThunder and Lightening

These storms can vary from relatively These storms can vary from relatively mild rainstorms to very damaging storms mild rainstorms to very damaging storms that feature hail and high wind. that feature hail and high wind.

Thunderstorms form when warm air rises Thunderstorms form when warm air rises from Earth's surface and moves upwards from Earth's surface and moves upwards quickly into the colder levels of the quickly into the colder levels of the atmosphere.atmosphere.

Lightning forms when updrafts of air carry Lightning forms when updrafts of air carry water droplets, which have a charge water droplets, which have a charge upward to heights where some freeze into upward to heights where some freeze into ice and snow particles.ice and snow particles.

Storms (AtmosphereStorms (Atmosphere))

BiosphereBiosphere

Storms impact the biosphere in Storms impact the biosphere in several waysseveral waysWhen it rains, can lead to When it rains, can lead to flooding and runoff that can wash flooding and runoff that can wash away plant and animal life. away plant and animal life. Wind and hail can destroy plant Wind and hail can destroy plant life at water edgeslife at water edges

LithosphereLithosphere

Storms impact the Storms impact the Lithosphere in several waysLithosphere in several waysRunoff will carry sediments Runoff will carry sediments into the water and cause into the water and cause erosionerosionThe runoff could pick up The runoff could pick up fertilizers and ash and carry fertilizers and ash and carry plant matter into our waterwayplant matter into our waterway

HydrosphereHydrosphere

Storms impact the Hydrosphere Storms impact the Hydrosphere in several waysin several waysContaminating the waterContaminating the water

Water Quality (Hydrosphere)Water Quality (Hydrosphere)

ImpactsImpacts

Biosphere impact the water Biosphere impact the water quality in several waysquality in several wayswash away plant and animal wash away plant and animal life. life. destroy plant lifedestroy plant life

ImpactsImpacts

Lithosphere impact the water Lithosphere impact the water quality in several waysquality in several waysThe water will be The water will be contaminated with chemicals contaminated with chemicals that will give the water poor that will give the water poor quality.quality.

ImpactsImpacts

Hydrosphere impact the water Hydrosphere impact the water quality in several waysquality in several waysIt is contaminated by the It is contaminated by the chemicals in the sediment such chemicals in the sediment such as sulfur, parasites, carbon, as sulfur, parasites, carbon, and much moreand much more

AtmosphereAtmosphere

This sphere is where weather This sphere is where weather occuroccur

Storms form in the atmosphere Storms form in the atmosphere as an interaction between air as an interaction between air pressure (Low/High) and sun’s pressure (Low/High) and sun’s energy. energy.

BiosphereBiosphere When it rains a certain amount of water is When it rains a certain amount of water is

absorbed into gardens, but a significant amount absorbed into gardens, but a significant amount ends up in our drains and waterways as storm ends up in our drains and waterways as storm water runoff.water runoff.

The runoff eventually picks up fertilizers and ash The runoff eventually picks up fertilizers and ash and carries plant matter into our waterways. and carries plant matter into our waterways. (resulting in fertilizer runoff)(resulting in fertilizer runoff)

The plant matter rots to release nutrients and The plant matter rots to release nutrients and utilizes oxygen at the same time.utilizes oxygen at the same time.

LithosphereLithosphere

Storm runoff Storm runoff (hydrosphere) and (hydrosphere) and erosion erosion (Lithosphere) (Lithosphere) interact to interact to contribute to poor contribute to poor water quality.water quality.

HydrosphereHydrosphere

Storm water is Storm water is from the from the hydrospherehydrosphere

It is contaminated It is contaminated by the chemicals in by the chemicals in the sediment such the sediment such as sulfur, as sulfur, parasites, carbon, parasites, carbon, and much more. and much more.

Why is Water Quality Important?Why is Water Quality Important?

Water resources Water resources are very valuableare very valuable

If the water quality If the water quality keeps declining, it keeps declining, it looses its value. looses its value.

The water provides The water provides many habitatsmany habitats

What effects the Quality of Our What effects the Quality of Our Water?Water?

Water quality is closely linked the surrounding environment, but Water quality is closely linked the surrounding environment, but that is not always the case. Other things can effect the water like that is not always the case. Other things can effect the water like

pH, salinity, SAV, dissolved oxygen, and plenty more. pH, salinity, SAV, dissolved oxygen, and plenty more.

Lake DrummondLake Drummond

Trial 1Trial 1 Trial 2Trial 2 Trial 3Trial 3

Secchi Depth (cm)Secchi Depth (cm) 4040 31.531.5 5555Water depth (cm)Water depth (cm) 5151 8888 3333DO (mg)DO (mg) 4.604.60 2.582.58 2.702.70pH pH 5.955.95 8.318.31 5.65.6Salinity (ppt)Salinity (ppt) .00.00 0.030.03 .03.03Wind Speed (knots)Wind Speed (knots) 2.42.4 3.53.5 9.89.8Wind directionWind direction SWSW SESE SESEAir temp. (Celsius)Air temp. (Celsius) 3838 3838 3434Water temp. Water temp. (Celsius)(Celsius)

33.533.5 34.434.4 34.734.7

ConclusionConclusion

In conclusion, ALL spheres of the Earth In conclusion, ALL spheres of the Earth affect water quality. It is our responsibility affect water quality. It is our responsibility

to do as much as we can to prevent to do as much as we can to prevent reprehensible water quality. reprehensible water quality.

RecommendationsRecommendations BiosphereBiosphere

Ways that we can improve our living habitsWays that we can improve our living habits• RecyclingRecycling• Stop litteringStop littering• CarpoolCarpool

LithosphereLithosphere Ways to prevent runoffWays to prevent runoff

• Leave forest and vegetation undisturbedLeave forest and vegetation undisturbed• Sediment netsSediment nets• Soil and water conservation practicesSoil and water conservation practices• Farm pondsFarm ponds• Strip croppingStrip cropping

Recommendations (continued)Recommendations (continued)

AtmosphereAtmosphere Less thermal pollutionLess thermal pollution Less factory useLess factory use

HydrosphereHydrosphere Regular water quality check-upsRegular water quality check-ups

ReflectionsReflections

This project was extremely informative.This project was extremely informative. We’ve learned the importance of water quality to We’ve learned the importance of water quality to

our community. As well as, what we can do to our community. As well as, what we can do to improve it.improve it.

We’ve also learned that storms have a little part We’ve also learned that storms have a little part in runoff and pollution, and this effects ALL in runoff and pollution, and this effects ALL spheres.spheres.

Thanks to this project, we can inform others that Thanks to this project, we can inform others that this issue is of great importance.this issue is of great importance.

www.ace.mmu.ac.uk

http://profhorn.aos.wisc.edu/wxwise/hurr/hurr.html

http://kids.earth.nasa.gov

Http://es.epa.gav/techinfo/facts

www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/shoreline

www.Dictionary.com

www.google.images.com

www.yahoo.images.com

A special thanks to:

Dr. Jim Botti

Mrs. Wiggins

Dr. Porter

Mrs. Nobles

Dr. Rossbach

Mrs. Stamper

Mrs. Harris

Burroughs Wellcome Fund