LobovizLoboviz

Comparing the Effects of Precipitation Comparing the Effects of Precipitation on Nitrate Levels in the Old Salinas on Nitrate Levels in the Old Salinas

River ChannelRiver Channel

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Introduction:Introduction:The LOBO observatory L3 buoy has collected data showing The LOBO observatory L3 buoy has collected data showing changed nitrate levels in the Old Salinas River Channel. changed nitrate levels in the Old Salinas River Channel. Normal oceanic nitrate levels are 10 Normal oceanic nitrate levels are 10 µm (micromol). Nitrate µm (micromol). Nitrate levels in the Old Salinas River Channel have reached 2000 levels in the Old Salinas River Channel have reached 2000 µm. Fluctuations in nitrate have been linked to tidal changes µm. Fluctuations in nitrate have been linked to tidal changes and storm events.and storm events.

Goal:Goal:Students will compare and analyze nitrate concentrations Students will compare and analyze nitrate concentrations and precipitation levels.and precipitation levels.

Question:Question:How will an increase in precipitation effect nitrate levels?How will an increase in precipitation effect nitrate levels?

Map above from: CIMISMap above from: CIMIS

http://http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/cimis/infoStnMapSanJoaquin.jspinfoStnMapSanJoaquin.jsp

Map below from: LOBOVIZ Map below from: LOBOVIZ NetworkNetwork

http://www.mbari.org/lobo/http://www.mbari.org/lobo/network.htm#LOBOmapnetwork.htm#LOBOmap

LobovizLoboviz

Materials: computer, access to:Materials: computer, access to:

Loboviz realtime data set pageLoboviz realtime data set page

http://www.mbari.org/lobo/loboviz.htmhttp://www.mbari.org/lobo/loboviz.htm

CIMIS weather data pageCIMIS weather data page

http://www.cimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/welcome.jsphttp://www.cimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/welcome.jsp

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Procedure:Procedure:

Ask students to develop their own hypothesis based on the Ask students to develop their own hypothesis based on the introduction and question.introduction and question.

((Example for the Teacher: An increase in rainfall will Example for the Teacher: An increase in rainfall will increase runoff and fresh water influx into the Old Salinas increase runoff and fresh water influx into the Old Salinas River Channel and decrease nitrate level.)River Channel and decrease nitrate level.)

DATA ProcedureDATA Procedure

1)Open the Loboviz data access page:1)Open the Loboviz data access page:

http://www.mbari.org/lobo/loboviz.htmhttp://www.mbari.org/lobo/loboviz.htm

LobovizLoboviz

Procedure continued:Procedure continued:Select the following:Select the following:2) Station: L03SURF.TXT2) Station: L03SURF.TXT3) X Variable: Date3) X Variable: Date4) Y Variables: Nitrate4) Y Variables: Nitrate5) Autoscale select: On5) Autoscale select: On6) Quality Select: All Data6) Quality Select: All Data7) YStack Select: Off7) YStack Select: Off8) Time Select: All Data8) Time Select: All Data9) Start Date 9) Start Date

02/01/2005 02/01/2005 10) End Date 10) End Date

03/31/2005 03/31/2005 11) Output: Plot11) Output: Plot

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LOBO L3 Buoy N Data 02-03/2005

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2/1/

05

2/8/

05

2/15

/05

2/22

/05

3/1/

05

3/8/

05

3/15

/05

3/22

/05

3/29

/05

Date

Nitr

ogen

(mic

rom

oles

)

Series1

Series2

Data from Loboviz, adapted in Excel

LobovizLoboviz

Precip

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.6

2/1/

2005

2/8/

2005

2/15

/200

5

2/22

/200

5

3/1/

2005

3/8/

2005

3/15

/200

5

3/22

/200

5

3/29

/200

5

date

pre

cip

Series1

Data from CIMIS, adapted in Excel

Precip

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.6

2/1/

2005

2/8/

2005

2/15

/200

5

2/22

/200

5

3/1/

2005

3/8/

2005

3/15

/200

5

3/22

/200

5

3/29

/200

5

date

pre

cip

Series1

LOBO L3 Buoy N Data 02-03/2005

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2/1/

05

2/8/

05

2/15

/05

2/22

/05

3/1/

05

3/8/

05

3/15

/05

3/22

/05

3/29

/05

Date

Nitro

gen

(m

icro

mole

s)

Series1

Series2

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Student Activity:Student Activity: Describe the patterns you see in the nitrate graph and Describe the patterns you see in the nitrate graph and

precipitation graph.precipitation graph. How did the patterns differ or agree with your How did the patterns differ or agree with your

hypothesis?hypothesis? The L3 buoy is positioned in the center of the Old The L3 buoy is positioned in the center of the Old

Salinas River Channel. If another buoy was placed near Salinas River Channel. If another buoy was placed near the edge of the riverbank, would there be a change in the edge of the riverbank, would there be a change in the data? If so, how?the data? If so, how?

LobovizLobovizResults:Results:Increased rainfall correlated to decreased nitrate levels Increased rainfall correlated to decreased nitrate levels from 02/01/2005 to 03/31/2005. (See 3/15/2005 and from 02/01/2005 to 03/31/2005. (See 3/15/2005 and 3/22/2005.)3/22/2005.)

Teacher Discussion hints: Teacher Discussion hints:

Higher rainfall levels could dilute nitrate levels in the Old Higher rainfall levels could dilute nitrate levels in the Old Salinas River Channel. However, nitrate levels tend to be Salinas River Channel. However, nitrate levels tend to be more concentrated at the bend or edge of a river. more concentrated at the bend or edge of a river. Therefore, buoy placement might effect nitrate data Therefore, buoy placement might effect nitrate data readings.readings.

Castroville (the site of the precipitation data) has significant Castroville (the site of the precipitation data) has significant artichoke farming. MBARI hopes to share this data with artichoke farming. MBARI hopes to share this data with local farmers to increase their efficacy of fertilizers (without local farmers to increase their efficacy of fertilizers (without wasting them) and lower nitrate levels.wasting them) and lower nitrate levels.

LOBO L3 Buoy

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Extensions:Extensions: How can we determine where the nitrates are coming from? How can we determine where the nitrates are coming from? Would testing the farmers’ wells be helpful?Would testing the farmers’ wells be helpful? If nitrate runoff was minimized what would be the economic If nitrate runoff was minimized what would be the economic

impact on farmers and fertilizer distributors?impact on farmers and fertilizer distributors? Aside from farming, what are some other sources of nitrates? Aside from farming, what are some other sources of nitrates?

(Teacher hint: look up maps of area and look for other (Teacher hint: look up maps of area and look for other sources).sources).

Examine LOBOVIZ again, examine data for dissolved oxygen Examine LOBOVIZ again, examine data for dissolved oxygen and nitrate levels to explore the effects of eutrophication. and nitrate levels to explore the effects of eutrophication. (Teacher hint: DO levels will be lower with high (Teacher hint: DO levels will be lower with high eutrophication.)eutrophication.)

Web resourcesWeb resources

Irrigation Scheduling:Irrigation Scheduling:

http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/infoIrrSchedule.jsphttp://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/infoIrrSchedule.jsp

What’s in Your Watershed (Bridge Data Tip)What’s in Your Watershed (Bridge Data Tip)

http://www.vims.edu/bridge/index_archive0203.htmlhttp://www.vims.edu/bridge/index_archive0203.html

Notes on Loboviz:Notes on Loboviz: Menu choices should correspond automatically to data available Menu choices should correspond automatically to data available

at the station. Ex.: types of chemical parameters, dateat the station. Ex.: types of chemical parameters, date Need metadata explanation. Ex.:Quality Select: What’s the Need metadata explanation. Ex.:Quality Select: What’s the

different in the data types?different in the data types? Need to be able to manipulate output in Text file format. Ex. Each Need to be able to manipulate output in Text file format. Ex. Each

day has at least 6 data point. It would be nice to be able to day has at least 6 data point. It would be nice to be able to average these to get 1 data value.average these to get 1 data value.

In general, the interface needs to be modified to be more teacher In general, the interface needs to be modified to be more teacher and student friendly.and student friendly.

GROUP CONTRIBUTORS:GROUP CONTRIBUTORS:Stephen Coleman, Susanna Musick, Julie Ribar, Eric SimmsStephen Coleman, Susanna Musick, Julie Ribar, Eric Simms