UA Water Chemistry and Hydrology Proposal Draft - v.10/24/95/2100 Roger Bales, P.I. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Introduction The vital components of water chemistry and hydrology in the GLOBE program are limited to the initial Phase I measurements of water temperature and pH. Though this component is operational, there is no science/education mentor to revise and broaden the protocols, to assess data quality and to interface with students and scientists. The University of Arizona is ready to incorporate a Water Chemistry and Hydrology component into its current Phase II soil moisture responsibilities as put forth in this scope of work. Scope of Work We propose to modify slightly the existing pH protocol and to strongly recommend schools to consider four new (optional) water chemistry and runoff protocols. Numerous river and stream watch programs have had great success involving pre-college students in the monitoring process. Indeed, children are drawn to water; its a magnet to their interests and curiosity. Most current programs, while of local merit, lack an over-arching tie to connect them to each other and to the global science research community. The GLOBE Program is the most effective way to provide this vital link. However, it is our intention to build upon the success of past programs such as The Rivers of Colorado Water Watch Network to implement new protocols over the next few months. Modifications - The pH can have direct and indirect effects on water and aquatic life; it is a measurement closely tied to temperature and should be made in the field immediately after collecting the water sample. The current protocol for measuring pH in Phase I would need modification to meet this requirement. Optional/pilot observations of new parameters - The inclusion of three additional water chemistry parameters - dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and conductivity - will greatly increase both local and global scientific understanding of the character and spatial distribution of fresh water chemistry. Stream discharge will also be added to enhance the hydrologic focus of this group. A general description of each of these new efforts follows: - Concentrations of dissolved oxygen are critical to aquatic biological communities. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the capacity of water to hold oxygen in solution and is inversely proportional to the water temperature; thus the measurement of DO with the Phase I water temperature makes both measurements more meaningful. - Measuring conductivity, which is an indication of the number of dissolved ions in the water, is useful for assessing the quality of water for irrigation or water supply purposes. Likewise, water alkalinity is a measure of water hardness and is similarly useful in assessing water quality. - Stream discharge integrates the effect of base flow and rainfall throughout a basin and is likewise a window into the hydrologic character of an area. Most streams can easily be gauged by applying simple geometric and algebraic concepts. Activities - Activities will be limited to a few exercises that consider the feedbacks between water, vegetation, soils and climate at the basin scale and the natural and man-made sources that are responsible for anomalous values. QA/QC - Quality assurance will be addressed through periodic duplicate samples, sampling unknowns sent to random school sites, local sample swaps and cross-calibrations between students. These are all easily attainable but need an advocate, mentor or graduate student to follow through consistently. Benefits Scientific - The scientific benefits of a global data set on water chemistry and discharge will provide critical validation data on the dynamics of water systems. It will contribute to our global understanding of water quantity and quality issues; assist individually, locally, and regionally in management and land use decisions. Water Chemistry and Hydrology activities interface naturally with the GLOBE atmospheric and biologic protocols in that water quality and quantity are critical and basic to all life forms on the planet. Educational - The proposed expansion of the water chemistry protocols will enhance each student's understanding of the interdependence of atmospheric and terrestrial factors with water. The protocols will broaden our perspectives to look at ourselves within the context of watersheds and the effects - both positive and negative - that we humans exert over nature. New activities that focus on the watershed perspective will increase the potential that the protocols will become an integral part of the teachers and students understanding of nature. Equipment / Data sheets The protocols for each of the new parameters are inexpensive, reliable and easy to do. They include a DO kit such as the $30 one from Hach and a stop watch and an orange for measuring discharge! Many schools will already own the equipment necessary to carry-out the protocols. Data sheets and much of the training methodology required for this effort are already available through a set of highly successful learning materials developed by the Rivers of Colorado Water Watch Network. Implementation The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona (UA) is the nations foremost institution of hydrologic education and research. The UA/GLOBE soil moisture project has initiated a strong program of local and regional education and science outreach. These activities include outreach to local schools, science/environment teacher organizations and support networks. There is strong support and existing collaborations with the State Science Education network and the Arizona Space Grant Consortium. This groundwork will benefit both efforts. We are anxious to join the ranks of the other GLOBE Phase II teams. Every effort will be made to come up to speed with ongoing efforts but we also need to be realistic in light of limited funding and our late start. Our strategy will be to take advantage of a rich variety of on and off campus resources and existing materials to "bootstrap" this effort much like Phase I before us. Management/Personnel Dr. Martha Conklin or Dr. Roger Bales, as PI, will advise and review the water chemistry and hydrology protocols developed in collaboration with Carol Bylsma, Co-PI in Education/Science. Together they will: - coordinate development of any required educational modules, - develop procedures and standards for the collection of the water chemistry and hydrology protocols, - enter collaborative research projects based on the data, - establish a MOSAIC home page, - participate in teacher training and other educational outreach programs, - maintain contacts with other GLOBE science teams, teachers and the GLOBE educational community, - satisfy all NSF reporting requirements for this project. The collaborating faculty at University of Arizona include Dr. Jack Elliot and Dr. Lisa Graumlich. A graduate student will be hired to review current data quality and interface with GLOBE schools engaged in water chemistry activities.