The effect the ph and Dissolved Oxygen of water in the Cove River have on the cloud type and height

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to figure out the effect that the pH and dissolved oxygen level of water in the Cove River have on the cloud type and height. Cove River is located to the West of West Haven High School. The site supports research in archeology, water quality, and plant life.

Dissolved oxygen can be generated by the plants in the water, going through photosynthesis, and by the diffusion of oxygen in the atmosphere.

ConclusionsThe purpose of this lab is to determine the effect of pH and dissolved oxygen in the water on the cloud formation around Cove River site. The hypothesis: “If the pH and dissolved oxygen levels of the water in Cove River are too low, then the clouds around Cove River will form at a low height because the lower pH will cause more substances to dissolve in the river and weight the clouds down. The additional weight of the low dissolved oxygen will cause lower cloud formation.” was not supported by our data because there was not a trend between the pH and dissolved oxygen levels.

A possible error could have been made in picking the types of clouds. An uncontrollable error, such as rain prior to the taking of data, could have changed the pH of Cove River. Another error that conflicted with our data was caused by a lack of not know the actual height of the clouds. The height of the clouds were assumed by their type.An error when taking the dissolved oxygen of the water is one must take the dissolved oxygen from the water as soon as possible because the atmosphere changes the D.O of the water. Another source of error is the gas station next to cove river contaminates the water the gas station had a leakage and it’s been dumped into the river.

The experiment can be improved by checking future cloud type results with a professional meteorologist. More data can be taken to gain a greater understanding of the effect that the pH of water has on cloud type and height.

ReferencesPalmer, Chad. "Cirrus Clouds." USA Today. Gannett, 16 Oct. 2005. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcirrus.htm >.

Palmer, Chad. "Cumulus Clouds." USA Today. Gannett, 16 Oct. 2005. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wcumulus.htm>.

Palmer, Chad. "Stratus Clouds." USA Today. Gannett, 16 Oct. 2005. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wstratus.htm>.

"Water on the Web | Understanding | Water Quality | Parameters." Water on the Web | Understanding | Water Quality | Parameters. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/oxygen.html>. "Clouds, Cloudiness, Surface Temperature, the Greenhouse Effect and Global Climate Change." Clouds, Cloudiness, Surface Temperature, the Greenhouse Effect and Global Climate Change. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/cloudiness.htm>.

Future Directions

In order to gain a greater understanding of the effect the pH of water and dissolved oxygen level of water has on the height and formation of clouds, research can be continued at a regular rate, and at more occurrences.There are other variables that could have affected results that were not taken into account in this experiment, such as temperature, nitrate, and salinity levels. To increase reliability in future results, it would be important to include these variables.

Results – The Effects of pH and D.O.

Data Tables

Methods1. Go to Cove River.

2. Observe the clouds and figure out what type they are.3. Obtain water from Cove River in a bucket.4. Use Vernier probeware to measure the pH and D.O. of the

water in Cove River.5. Repeat steps 1-4 five times for five days or at a random

monthly basis.

Problem Statement

IV: Uncontrolled change of pH and D.O. of the Water in Cove River

DV: Height and Cloud Formation

Hypothesis Statement If the pH and dissolved oxygen levels of the water in Cove River are too low, then the clouds around Cove River will form at a low height because the lower pH will cause more substances to dissolve in the river and weight the clouds down. The additional weight of the low dissolved oxygen will cause lower cloud formation.

Acknowledgements : Thanks to Dr. Graves and Mr. Dickson for the support and knowledge they gave us.

Days pH Dissolved Oxygen

10/21/2011 6.3 2.5 mg/L

11/18/2011 7.1 12.8 mg/L

12/9/2011 7.2 8 mg/L

1/20/2012 7.1 7.6 mg/L

2/17/2012 7.4 6.5 mg/L

Site of Data

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 50

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pH LevelApproximate Cloud Height (km)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 50

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Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)Approximate Cloud Height (km)

By: Jacob Yisehak Michelle Diaz Sebastian Moraga

"Water on the Web | Understanding | Water Quality | Parameters." Water on the Web | Understanding | Water Quality | Parameters. Web. 09 May 2012. <http://www.waterontheweb.org/under/waterquality/oxygen.html>.