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Coastal Storms and
Water Quality
Created and presented by:
Alicia McPherson, Tracie Twine,
Amanda Richardson, and Gretchen Davila
For years, the Pasquotank area has
been paying EPA tons of money
because of farm and storm runoff. Even
though we have new businesses, docks
and boat facilities, people are still
concerned about activities on the
watershed.
Problem Statement
What is the relationship of storms to the
decline of water quality in the Pasquotank
area?
What Causes A Storm?



Storms occur from the
interactions among
the earth’s spheres.
Typically the
atmosphere and
hydrosphere.
Storms usually have
conditions like warm
water and moist,
humid and combined
with low air pressure.
Types of Storms Effecting Our Area
 Hurricanes
 Tornados
 Hail
storms
 Thunderstorms
 Nor’easters
What Are Hurricanes?
Hurricanes are strong wind storms, which
are cyclonic in nature. This means that
they revolve around a central point, which
is known as an 'eye'. The eye is the
calmest part in the storm, while the winds
raging around the storm have reached a
speed of 119 km an hour! The winds rotate
in an anti-clockwise direction in the
northern hemisphere, and in a clockwise
direction in the southern hemisphere.
How Are Hurricanes Formed?

Hurricanes are
formed in
tropical, ocean
areas.
 The warm air
above the ocean
begins to rise,
and as it rises, it
condenses and
forms clouds
and rain
droplets.
Thunder and Lightening

These storms can vary from relatively
mild rainstorms to very damaging storms
that feature hail and high wind.
 Thunderstorms form when warm air rises
from Earth's surface and moves upwards
quickly into the colder levels of the
atmosphere.
 Lightning forms when updrafts of air
carry water droplets, which have a charge
upward to heights where some freeze into
ice and snow particles.
Storms (Atmosphere)
Biosphere
Storms impact the biosphere in
several ways
When it rains, can lead to
flooding and runoff that can wash
away plant and animal life.
Wind and hail can destroy plant
life at water edges
Lithosphere
Storms impact the
Lithosphere in several ways
Runoff will carry sediments
into the water and cause
erosion
The runoff could pick up
fertilizers and ash and carry
plant matter into our waterway
Hydrosphere
Storms impact the Hydrosphere
in several ways
Contaminating the water
Water Quality (Hydrosphere)
Impacts
Biosphere impact the water
quality in several ways
wash away plant and animal
life.
destroy plant life
Impacts
Lithosphere impact the water
quality in several ways
The water will be
contaminated with chemicals
that will give the water poor
quality.
Impacts
Hydrosphere impact the water
quality in several ways
It is contaminated by the
chemicals in the sediment such
as sulfur, parasites, carbon,
and much more
Atmosphere
 This
sphere is where weather
occur
 Storms form in the atmosphere
as an interaction between air
pressure (Low/High) and sun’s
energy.
Biosphere

When it rains a certain amount of water is
absorbed into gardens, but a significant amount
ends up in our drains and waterways as storm
water runoff.
 The runoff eventually picks up fertilizers and ash
and carries plant matter into our waterways.
(resulting in fertilizer runoff)
 The plant matter rots to release nutrients and
utilizes oxygen at the same time.
Lithosphere
 Storm
runoff
(hydrosphere) and
erosion
(Lithosphere)
interact to
contribute to poor
water quality.
Hydrosphere
 Storm
water is
from the
hydrosphere
 It is contaminated
by the chemicals in
the sediment such
as sulfur, parasites,
carbon, and much
more.
Why is Water Quality Important?
 Water
resources
are very valuable
 If the water quality
keeps declining, it
looses its value.
 The water provides
many habitats
What effects the Quality of Our
Water?
Water quality is closely linked the surrounding environment, but
that is not always the case. Other things can effect the water like
pH, salinity, SAV, dissolved oxygen, and plenty more.
Lake Drummond
Secchi Depth (cm)
Water depth (cm)
DO (mg)
pH
Salinity (ppt)
Wind Speed (knots)
Wind direction
Air temp. (Celsius)
Water temp.
(Celsius)
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
40
51
4.60
5.95
.00
2.4
SW
38
33.5
31.5
88
2.58
8.31
0.03
3.5
SE
38
34.4
55
33
2.70
5.6
.03
9.8
SE
34
34.7
Conclusion
In conclusion, ALL spheres of the Earth
affect water quality. It is our responsibility
to do as much as we can to prevent
reprehensible water quality.
Recommendations

Biosphere

Ways that we can improve our living habits
• Recycling
• Stop littering
• Carpool

Lithosphere

Ways to prevent runoff
•
•
•
•
•
Leave forest and vegetation undisturbed
Sediment nets
Soil and water conservation practices
Farm ponds
Strip cropping
Recommendations (continued)
 Atmosphere


Less thermal pollution
Less factory use
 Hydrosphere

Regular water quality check-ups
Reflections

This project was extremely informative.
 We’ve learned the importance of water quality to
our community. As well as, what we can do to
improve it.
 We’ve also learned that storms have a little part
in runoff and pollution, and this effects ALL
spheres.
 Thanks to this project, we can inform others that
this issue is of great importance.
www.ace.mmu.ac.uk
http://profhorn.aos.wisc.edu/wxwise/hurr/
hurr.html
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov
Http://es.epa.gav/techinfo/facts
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/shoreline
www.Dictionary.com
www.google.images.com
www.yahoo.images.com
A special thanks to:
Dr. Jim Botti
Mrs. Wiggins
Dr. Porter
Mrs. Nobles