Name Date
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Water Quality Analysis Lab Report
Directions: Complete a water quality analysis for each of the major bodies of water. Be
sure to document your analysis by collecting and organizing data, creating and uploading
appropriate graphs, and following the guidelines for writing a conclusion.
Data Collection
Using the Water Quality Testing activity, you will be collecting data about the Chesapeake
Bay, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico over many years. Explore the program to
learn about the four measures of water quality at different times. Determine how to
collect data about a single body of water over time in a table format. While it is important
that you become familiar with the variability of the data over a single water body, for the
purposes of further analysis, in your tables cite the means for pH, temperature, and
turbidity. For dissolved oxygen data, cite the area of the "dead zone." Complete the
tables, including headings. You may not need all of the rows or columns provided.
The Chesapeake Bay
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The Gulf of Mexico
The Great Lakes
Data Display
In order to study patterns and trends, you will need to display the data in graphs. For
each of the three bodies of water, create a multiple-line graph to display the data. You
may use a graphing program or do these by hand. Your graphs should be uploaded as
part of your final portfolio.
Data Analysis
Before drawing conclusions or making predictions, you will need to look for patterns and
trends in the data. Write a paragraph describing the data and any patterns or trends you
see for each of the three bodies of water.
The Chesapeake Bay
The Gulf of Mexico
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© 2019 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved. 4
The Great Lakes
Drawing Conclusions and Making Predictions
Having studied the data for patterns and trends, you should now be able to draw some
conclusions and make predictions about the general water quality of each major body of
water. Address the following in your final paragraphs:
● Is the general water quality of this body of water declining or improving? Cite
evidence from the data to support your conclusion.
● Based on the most recent data, what do you predict will be the biggest
environmental risk factors facing this body of water in the coming years? Consider
both the data and what you have learned about the causes and effects of changes
in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
● Relate your conclusions and predictions about different parameters of water quality
with potential effect on biodiversity.
The Chesapeake Bay
5
The Gulf of Mexico
The Great Lakes
© 2019 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.
Water Quality Analysis Lab Report
Introduction:
This lab report focuses on the water quality analysis of three major bodies of water. The aim of the study is to collect data on the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico over several years and to create graphs and draw conclusions about the general water quality of each major body of water.
Data Collection:
Using the Water Quality Testing activity, data was collected about the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico over many years. Data was collected and organized into tables citing the means for pH, temperature, and turbidity. For dissolved oxygen data, the area of the "dead zone" was cited.
Data Display:
In order to study patterns and trends, a multiple-line graph was created for each of the three bodies of water to display the data. The graphs were created using a graphing program.
Data Analysis:
Patterns and trends were analyzed in the data collected for each of the three bodies of water. The following paragraphs describe the data and any patterns or trends observed for each of the major bodies of water.
The Chesapeake Bay:
The data showed fluctuations in the water quality parameters over the years. There was a gradual increase in water temperature, pH, and turbidity. Dissolved oxygen levels tend to decrease during the summer months leading to the formation of a large "dead zone".
The Gulf of Mexico:
There was a significant decrease in dissolved oxygen levels over the years. Water temperature, pH, and turbidity showed gradual increases.
The Great Lakes:
There were fluctuations in the water quality parameters over the years with no particular trends observed. There was an increase in dissolved oxygen levels in Lake Superior in recent years.
Drawing conclusions and making predictions:
Based on the data collected and analyzed, the following conclusions and predictions were made for each of the major bodies of water.
The Chesapeake Bay:
The general water quality of Chesapeake Bay is declining. The gradual increase in temperature and pH and decrease in dissolved oxygen levels are some of the evidence supporting this claim. The biggest environmental risk factors facing Chesapeake Bay are nutrient pollution caused by the discharge from farms, wastewater treatment plants, and other sources that are transported to the bay by streams and rivers. This nutrient pollution causes algae to grow excessively which eventually lead to the formation of a dead zone, which causes hypoxia and negatively impacts biodiversity.
The Gulf of Mexico:
The general water quality of the Gulf of Mexico is declining. The significant decrease in dissolved oxygen levels over time is evidence supporting this claim. The biggest environmental risk factors facing the Gulf of Mexico are the excess nutrients that run off from agricultural fields and flood-plains along the Mississippi River. These nutrients combine with wastewater and increase the nutrient levels in the Gulf of Mexico, which lead to an increase in phytoplankton. When these organisms die, bacteria consumes oxygen leading to hypoxia, which negatively impacts biodiversity.
The Great Lakes:
The general water quality of the Great Lakes is improving. The fluctuations in water quality parameters over the years did not show any trends, but the recent increase in dissolved oxygen levels in Lake Superior is evidence that the water quality is improving. The biggest environmental risk factors facing the Great Lakes are climate change, invasive species, and nutrient pollution. Climate change and invasive species directly impact biodiversity while nutrient pollution leads to eutrophication, resulting in negative effects on biodiversity.
Conclusion:
This lab report highlights the importance of monitoring water quality to assess the health of aquatic ecosystems. The data collected and analyzed gives us insights on the general water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes and the potential environmental risk factors facing them. Efforts need to be made to reduce nutrient pollution and other factors that negatively impact water quality and the biodiversity of the aquatic ecosystems.
To complete the Water Quality Analysis Lab Report, follow these step-by-step instructions:
1. Data Collection:
- Begin by using the Water Quality Testing activity to collect data on the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Mexico over many years.
- Explore the program to learn about the four measures of water quality at different times.
- Determine how to collect data about a single body of water over time in a table format.
- In your tables, cite the means for pH, temperature, and turbidity. For dissolved oxygen data, cite the area of the "dead zone."
- Complete the tables with appropriate headings. You may not need all of the rows or columns provided.
2. Data Display:
- To study patterns and trends, create a multiple-line graph for each of the three bodies of water. You can use a graphing program or do it by hand.
- Ensure that your graphs are uploaded as part of your final portfolio.
3. Data Analysis:
- Look for patterns and trends in the data before drawing conclusions or making predictions.
- Write a paragraph describing the data and any patterns or trends you observe for each of the three bodies of water (Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes).
4. Drawing Conclusions and Making Predictions:
- Based on the data analysis, draw conclusions and make predictions about the general water quality of each major body of water.
- In your final paragraphs, address the following points:
a. Discuss whether the general water quality of each body of water is declining or improving, citing evidence from the data to support your conclusion.
b. Consider the most recent data to predict the biggest environmental risk factors that the body of water will face in the coming years. Discuss the causes and effects of changes in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
c. Relate your conclusions and predictions about different parameters of water quality with potential effects on biodiversity.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each of the three bodies of water (Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes).
Remember to document your analysis by collecting and organizing data, creating and uploading appropriate graphs, and following the guidelines for writing a conclusion.
In order to complete the Water Quality Analysis Lab Report, you will need to follow these steps:
1. Collecting Data:
- Use the Water Quality Testing activity to collect data about the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico over many years.
- Explore the program to learn about the four measures of water quality at different times.
- Determine how to collect data about a single body of water over time in a table format.
- Create a table and document the analysis by organizing the collected data.
- For the purposes of further analysis, cite the means for pH, temperature, and turbidity.
- For dissolved oxygen data, cite the area of the "dead zone."
2. Data Display:
- Create a multiple-line graph to display the data for each of the three bodies of water.
- You can use a graphing program or do it by hand.
- Make sure to upload the graphs as part of your final portfolio.
3. Data Analysis:
- Look for patterns and trends in the data before drawing conclusions or making predictions.
- Write a paragraph describing the data and any patterns or trends you see for each of the three bodies of water.
4. Drawing Conclusions and Making Predictions:
- Based on the data analysis, draw conclusions and make predictions about the general water quality of each major body of water.
- Cite evidence from the data to support your conclusion about whether the water quality is declining or improving.
- Consider the most recent data to predict the biggest environmental risk factors facing each body of water in the coming years.
- Consider the causes and effects of changes in pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
- Relate your conclusions and predictions about different parameters of water quality with the potential effect on biodiversity.
Ensure that you follow the guidelines for writing a conclusion and provide accurate and well-supported answers to each question.