Effects of Depth and Sediment Concentration on the Penetration of Photosynthetically essays

Effects of Depth and Sediment Concentration on the Penetration of Photosynthetically essays Effects of Depth and Sediment Concentration on the Penetration of Photosynthetically Introduction The purpose of this study plan is to measure the effects of light on sedimentary particles in water. This study plan will include information pertaining to equipment, procedures, and analysis. This plan will also discuss problems that could arise during the sampling. Objectives The objective of this study is to observe whether sedimentary accumulation at various depths will effect the penetration of light energy. One reason for monitoring light penetration is to determine if sufficient energy is available for photosynthesis. This energy is effected by the amount of sedimentation that is suspended in the water. In order to ensure the data's scientific validity this study needs to include the main principles. These include selecting a control; a control will be the measurement that all other data is compared to. Second, the selection of the sample sites must be non-bias and random. This ensures that the experiments are not predictable or foreseeable. Finally the experiments must be described in great detail so that they can be replicated at a later date. Literature Energy is distributed throughout the worlds oceans in several usable forms. The heat transmitted during absorption is responsible for ocean waves, temperature and currents. Light penetration in water will measure in units of quanta. This measurement refers to the amount of sunlight that penetrates the water at various depths. The light energy is absorbed and scattered by suspended particles, dissolved substances, and the water itself (USGS). Other factors include attenuation coefficient: rate at which light decreases with depth. This means that each site studied may have a different attenuation coefficient. An example of a high coefficient would indicate a rapid decrease in light penetration, therefore, high sedimentation. Another factor to be aware o...