The Examination of Streamflow from an Ice Covered Pond Presented By:

OUTLINE Introduction – Background information Hypothesis Methods Results – Examining streamflow in relation to ice cover thickness – Evaluating the usefulness of the melting degree-day relationship with runoff – Investigating radiation/temperature in relation to streamflow generation – Assessing the water quality of Stong Pond and its change during icemelt

INTRODUCTION This investigation is designed to determine several variables and correlations between such variables by examining streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond Once these variables are analyzed and graphed to illustrate their relation with one another, a conclusion can be drawn on how streamflow and icemelt on an ice covered pond affect various aspects of the surrounding environment

INTRODUCTION Streamflow – Streamflow is the main mechanism by which water moves from the land to the oceans. – Runoff of water in channels is responsible for transport of sediment, nutrients, and pollution downstream. Conductivity – Conductivity measures the ability of water to conduct an electrical current. A stream’s conductivity is directly proportional to the concentrations and types of positively and negatively charged ions present. – Sources of ions are both naturally occurring and anthropogenic in origin, and include soil, bedrock, human and animal waste, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and road salt

HYPOTHESIS Through a one-week investigation on the examination of streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond, it is evident that there should be many relationships and correlations between stream discharge and other variables such as runoff, radiation, temperature and water quality.

METHODS Each of the six groups analyzed various factors of the pond on their assigned date/time. These include: – Stream Discharge (ice melt) Tape measure, stop watch, fishing bobber, meter stick – Conductivity (water quality) Conductivity Meter – Pond Ice Depth (ice melt) Ice Corer, Meter Stick

METHODS Pond Discharge flowing from the stream Streamflow from Stong Pond Notice potential runoff

METHODS Potential Runoff availability Thinning ice soon to be contributing to discharge

METHODS View of icemelt from SW side of Stong Pond View of Stong Pond from the SW side

RESULTS Evidently, there is no noticeable logical correlation between the two variables As ice thickness increases, discharge also increases which must mean that there are other factors involved One of the most obvious factors is of course snowmelt and runoff from the nearby snow banks along with meltwater

RESULTS These two graphs show apparent correlation with one another As degree-day increases steadily, discharge also increases quite significantly Common sense tells us that this just looks as it should, however there are other comparisons that did not turn out the same way

Solving for the empirical coefficient, b ΔM/Δt = b(T a -T o )Δt – Δt on each side (cancel out) ΔM = b(T a -T o ) 0.13m/5hrs = b(0.9˚C - 0.1˚C) b = 0.026m/0.8˚C b = m/˚C (Feb. 23/07) 0.01m/˚C (average of the 6 days)

RESULTS Despite what one may think, there does not seem to be any distinct correlation between stream discharge and incoming solar radiation Since the pond and surrounding area is covered in snow, the albedo would be significantly high enough to justify this trend

RESULTS This correlation is quite possibly the most obvious and best thus far Unlike incoming radiation, temperature has a direct impact on the discharge from the pond Although the similarities are substantial, there are times where the temperature falls near or on 0˚C, however discharge is still relatively high

RESULTS During the course of icemelt, the water quality changes and does not seem to be independent of streamflow generation Notice how conductivity increases significantly for higher flows and is lower for lower flows

DISCUSSION Through in an in depth analysis of streamflow (discharge), it is evident that this variable is the most consistent in having correlations with other variables (shown in results) Also, it appears that runoff is in fact the variable that is most responsible for transport of sediment, nutrients, and mainly pollution downstream

DISCUSSION Although there is not substantial information collected or derived from the data to come to any conclusions, there seem to be noticeable trends in the results as aforementioned ‘The High Albedoes’® refuse to face defeat and will find any sense and relationship between any data thrown at them

CONCLUSION Through a one-week investigation on the examination of streamflow from an ice covered Stong Pond, it is evident that there are in fact few correlations between stream discharge and other variables such as runoff, temperature and water quality with the most significant being runoff.

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