Download Water Quality Variables CrosswordName

Water Quality Variables Crossword
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4. –How clear or cloudy the water is. The
more cloudy the water the higher the value.
Lots of sediments in the water can cause it
to heat up.
6. - A measure of H+ and OH- ions in
water. The higher the concentration of H+
ions the more acidic the water. The higher
the concentration of OH- ions the more
basic the water. Rain is slightly acidic.
Ground water that runs through limestone
will be basic.
7. -device used for measuring how clear or
cloudy the water is..
8. –the more ions (charged particles) in the
water the easier it is for an electric current
to pass through it. Ions can come from
minerals in the ground and soil, chemicals
that get collected in run-off, and even water
softener system that discharge salty water.
An oil spill would cause a decrease of
conductivity.
9. –an element that is needed for all
organisms to grow. Found in the DNA of all
cells. Often this element is found in limited
amounts in the ecosystem, an excess of
phosphorus will cause an over growth of
algae. Eventually the algae will die and as
bacteria breaks it down the dissolved
oxygen levels in water will drop.
10. –the amount of oxygen dissolved in the
water. Necessary for aquatic animals and
plants to breathe. Added to water when it
mixes with air through tumbling and water falls.
Down
1. –organisms with no backbone that live on the bottom of a stream. Small, but big enough to see without
the use of a microscope. Often used as water quality indicators, as they can be sensitive to pollution and
poor water quality. A healthy population of sensitive is an indication of good water quality.
2. –how fast and how much water is moving through a given section of a stream channel. Measure as a
volume/time, such as meters cubed per second or cubic feet per second.
3. –Compounds that contain nitrogen and come from human and animal waste. An excess can cause an
over growth of algae. Nitrogen is found in DNA and proteins.
5. –affects dissolved oxygen. As the water warms up it can hold less oxygen. Also affects the
reproduction rates of many aquatic organisms. Many plants and bacteria will grow faster in warm water
while many species of fish need cold water to survive and reproduce.