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Turbidity/Transparency

7/19/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
Before Grand Rapids, the water was crystal clear (left), and since, it's been muddy (turbid. right).
For the first couple hundred miles, the Mississippi River, nicknamed Big Muddy, was actually crystal clear.  I could see straight down to the bottom, 20 or 30 feet below.  On glassy days, I actually felt some vertigo from being so far above the river bottom "up high" in my kayak.  Since Grand Rapids, however, the river has earned it's nickname. This could be due to thunderstorms, eroding banks (as opposed to marsh), discharge from paper factory, etc.  Some of the reasons we care about how clear a body of water is (it's turbidity or transparency) are because oxygen has a harder time dissolving into turbid water (making it harder for organisms to breathe), sunlight has difficulty penetrating the water column (making it more difficult for water plants to photosynthesize), and particles can clog gills (making it even more difficult for fish to breathe and reducing their ability to fight disease).  Here's how you use a turbidity or transparency tube.  It's very similar to a secchi disk, if you're familiar with that. 
2 Comments
Janet Sparks
7/19/2015 09:45:58 am

Read the write-up in the Herald Leader about your work/journey. You are a great inspiration. Just started reading the blog today and am enjoying your posts. I will share them with my husband and son. Way to stay strong! Safe travels to you. I love being on or near water! Janet Sparks, Versailles, KY

Reply
Alyssum
7/19/2015 02:18:45 pm

Thanks Janet!

Reply



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    Alyssum Pohl is paddling the Mississippi River and documenting water quality and plastic waste along the way.

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