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Procedure for Using the YSI
Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Meters on Volunteer Monitored Lakes
The
Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has purchased five YSI
Model 95 temperature and dissolved oxygen meters for participants in the
Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program to use on their lakes.
We hope that our volunteers will be interested in measuring temperature
and dissolved oxygen profiles of their lakes.
Temperature profiles not only tell us whether the lake is stratified, but also the depth of the surface mixing layer (called the epilimnion) and the depth of the bottom non-mixed layer (called the hypolimnion). The oxygen profile tells us whether oxygen is plentiful throughout the lake or if not, the amount of the lake that has insufficient oxygen. This, of course, is particularly important to the fish and gives us insight into how biologically productive the lake is. For Example:
Martin Lake is thermally stratified and has a fairly shallow mixing zone (epilimnion). Bottom temperatures are very cold. Oxygen declines significantly below 8 meters. This suggests that there is significant Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the sediments. This organic matter is food for bacteria that consume the oxygen as they feed. Because
both temperature and dissolved oxygen change with the seasons, volunteers are
encouraged to take additional measurements on their lake – but no more than
once per month. Each
meter is expensive ($1,000) and fragile. Please
use with care. You will be trained
by SWCD or SPEA staff before you are allowed to borrow a meter.
If you are uncertain about features of the meters or how to use them
after you’ve been trained, please call for refresher instructions. Here
is the procedure for borrowing the meters: 1.
Call the
nearest SWCD office or SPEA to reserve the meter for a specific date (addresses
and telephone numbers are given following).
Arrange a time when you can pick up the meter. 2.
The local
SWCD or SPEA staff will train you on proper use and care of the meter during
your first visit. This training
will take approximately 30 minutes. 3.
You will
have to sign for the meter on a standard form. 4.
Take the
meter home and make the measurements on your lake (measurement instructions are
on a separate sheet and enclosed in the meter case). 5.
Return
the meter to the SWCD office or SPEA the same or next day.
We can only allow you 1-2 days at a time with the meter so that it is
available for others to use. Where
to Sign Out a Meter Kosciusko County SWCD Noble County SWCD 217 E. Bell Drive 100 East Park Drive Warsaw, IN 46582 Albion, IN 46701-9797 (219) 267-7445 ext 3 (219) 636-7682 ext 3 Contact: Julie Harrold Contact: Kent Tracey LaGrange County SWCD Steuben County SWCD 910 South Detroit Street Peachtree Plaza 200 LaGrange, IN 46761-2235 1220 N. 200W (219) 463-3166 ext 3 Angola, IN 46703-8901 Contact: Mark Diehm (219) 665-3211 ext 3 Contact: Mark Diehm School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University 1315 East 10th Street Bloomington, IN 47405-1701 (812) 855-4556 Contact: Bill
Jones or Sara Peel
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING TEMPERATURE AND DISSOLVED
OXYGEN MEASUREMENTS Temperature
and oxygen profiles should generally be made from the deepest water depths in
your lake. You will have to anchor
your boat – otherwise drift will cause inaccurate depth measurements. 1. Turn on meter and calibrate according to instructions. **The
meter must be turned on for 20 minutes prior to calibration to allow the
electronics to stabilize. 2.
Once
calibrated, remove probe from calibration/storage chamber. 3.
Lower probe
into water to desired depth. (Always
start measurements with the probe at just below the water’s surface.
Then make measurements at one-meter intervals, for example, 1m, 2m, 3m,
4m, etc. The cord is marked with
tape at these intervals. Be careful
to not let probe hit the bottom sediments.) 4.
Press MODE
button until meter is in “dissolved oxygen % air saturation” mode. 5.
Allow
temperature to stabilize (about 30 seconds).
6.
Record
temperature on data sheet (see example attached). 7.
Raise and
lower the probe gently (about 2 inches per second) until % air saturation
stabilizes. Record this percentage. 8.
Press UP
ARROW button once so dissolved oxygen is displayed in “mg/L”. Again raise and lower the probe until stable.
Record this value. 9.
Lower probe
to next depth. 10.
Press the UP
ARROW button to return to “% air saturation” mode.
Repeat steps 5 – 9 as necessary. 11.
When
finished, rinse probe with distilled water from the squirt bottle. Place probe in storage chamber.
Turn off meter. REMEMBER:
Never hold the meter over the water.
Keep it securely inside the boat. 12.
Send
completed data sheet to: Bill
Jones, SPEA 347, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
47405 Report
any difficulties to SWCD staff. |
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Send mail to
joneswi@indiana.edu with
questions or comments about this web site.
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