The Freshwater Sciences Research Group at the University of Ulster focuses on improving water quality in rivers and lakes. Current projects include a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded project which is investigating a new method to measure the settling velocity of contaminants in lakes. Recent technological advances in freshwater research have allowed researchers at the University to investigate lake pollution processes on a much higher resolution than previously possible.
High resolution sampling equipment
The particle settling rate constant (the speed at which contaminants settle out of the water column into the sediments) is a fundamental parameter used in a wide variety of aquatic models. The accurate determination of the
in-situ
settling rate constant has been a primary objective in marine and freshwater sedimentation sciences for the last twenty years. This current project is using a highly specialised piece of oceanographic equipment, which was secured by an earlier NERC grant, to measure the settling rate constant. The McLane Remote Access Sampler is an autonomous in situ water sampler which has been modified for freshwater use. It is a self-contained, low-power instrument designed to collect up to 48 individual 500 ml water samples into bags. The samples are collected according to a user-defined time schedule during deployments of up to 18 months duration. The RAS can be used in 0� to +50�C water temperature to a maximum depth of 5,500 metres.
Freshwater pollution is a serious problem
Accurate settling rate constant values would be of great importance to the scientific community, who require them for critical load models for heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, particle and chemical residence times, and ecological modelling. This would directly support the end users � i.e. governments � who rely on the accuracy of scientific models to control emissions and implement environmental policy.
Contact: Dr Richard Douglas;
Tel: 028 70323116;
E-Mail:
[email protected]
; Web:
www.science.ulst.ac.uk/freshwater/
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