In this lab we will study the physical and chemical properties of lake water. Thus, warmer, less dense water resides in the top of the lake, while cooler, more dense water is present in the bottom of the lake. You may have noticed this during a summer swim when you dove deep into a lake and passed into the hypolimnion. Stratification of lake water can result in isolation of hypolimnetic water thus cutting the hypolimnion off from its primary source of oxygen. Oxygen is used by bacteria in the degradation of organic matter.
Carbon dioxide is produced by the degradation of organic matter.
The class will be divided into 4 teams. Each team will consist of 7 students and 1 instructor in two row boats per team. Any student who does not wish to go out in the row boats or cannot swim may remain on shore. Temperature and dissolved oxygen should be measured in situ, or in their original position. Use of the dissolved O2 meter and probe will be demonstrated by your instructor.