1. Topic 5: Monitoring the Environment
What does ‘monitoring the environment’ mean?
Why do we monitor the environment?
When should we monitor?

2. 1. Water quality
What is water quality?
Physical, biological and chemical characteristics of water
Why is water quality important?
Is good water quality always the same? Or does it change based on the context? Give an example.

3. How do we judge water quality?
Use indicators
a) Clarity/turbidity = how clear the water is
Not always a good indicator
Some pollutants (eg. acid rain) cause water to become very clear
Other pollutants (nutrients) cause water to become cloudy

4. b) Biological indicators
Monitor the # and type of organisms
A water system that supports a wide variety of organisms probably has good water quality for allowing organisms to survive
Different organisms prefer different conditions
If there is a change in the population of an organism – may indicate there is a problem
What are some examples of organisms that would be good to monitor? Why?

5. c) Chemical indicators i) pH
As pH decreases, the diversity of organisms that live in the water decreases
Most fish disappear if pH falls below 4.5
Different organisms have different tolerance levels
Spring acid shock
Acid builds up in the ice and snow during winter
In the spring – meltwater flows into aquatic systems
Results in a large/rapid change in pH
Why is this a concern?

6. ii) Dissolved oxygen The amount of oxygen in the water
Is essential for the health of all aquatic life
Level of oxygen depends on
Temperature
- Higher temp = less oxygen
Turbulence
- More turbulence = more oxygen
Amount of photosynthesis
-More photosynthesis = more oxygen
# of organisms
-More organisms = less oxygen

7. Why are these concerning? iv) Nutrients N, P, K
iii) Heavy metals
Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni
Why are these concerning?
iv) Nutrients
N, P, K
Pesticides
- Why are these concerning?
Salts
-Why are these concerning?

8. 2. Air quality
Why is air quality important?
Air components
Nitrogen = 78%
Oxygen = 21%
Carbon dioxide = 0.03%
Other gases = about 1%

9. Pollutant Produced from… Contributes to… Other effects
SO2
(sulfur dioxide)
-industrial processes
-smog
-acid rain
-affects the respiratory system
NOx
(nitrous oxides = NO, NO2)
-combustion in vehicles CO
(carbon monoxide)
-combustion
-health problems (headaches, dizziness, sleepiness, chest pain)
-silent killer (can’t smell or see)
CO2
(carbon dioxide)
-global warming / climate change O3
(ozone)
-fuel combustion
-lung disease
-can affect certain crops

10. How can air quality can be determined?
Measure the level of pollution in the air
Most accurate
Can be done locally – gives you readings for a specific area
Nonpoint source – doesn’t tell you who is creating the pollution
Estimate the emissions from pollution sources
Eg. Oil sands, industry
Point source specific
Only gives you the one piece of the puzzle – not the bigger story