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DIURNAL FLUCTUATIONS OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS AND ITS EFFECT ON WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS.  L.S. Alexander1, M. Gimond, Ph.D.2.  1Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, 2Dynamac Corporation, Kennedy Space Center.

   The Indian River Lagoon is a linear lagoonal system that comprises more than a third of Florida's east coast.  It encompasses three bodies of water: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River, and the Indian River.   Water quality in the estuaries of the Indian River Lagoon system has been evaluated on monthly sampling.  This sampling scheme may not be indicative of the true health of the aquatic system based on the hypothesis that water quality varies daily in correlation with weather patterns. Although there are numerous parameters used to assess water quality, this project focused on chlorophyll-a and total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations.  Chlorophyll-a and suspended particulate matter can be detrimental to estuaries if found in high concentrations.  Because they cause inadequate light penetration, the growth and survival of sea grasses is reduced, which can have a negative impact on the water and the surrounding environment. 
Water samples were collected and analyzed every morning at two sites along the Banana River.  Site 1 was located in the South Banana River and Site 2 in the North Banana River. The water samples were collected in triplicates from each of these sites.  The procedures for analysis of these samples were derived from Standard Methods.  Two similar but separate filtration systems were used to filter chlorophyll-a and TSS.  Chlorophyll-a concentrations calculated using a spectrophotometer, while TSS concentrations were determined through weighing.  Meteorological data was gathered from Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), Permanent Air Monitoring Stations (PAMS), and 10 meteorological towers located near the Banana River Basin.  After analyzing the entire weather data set collected during the three and a half week sampling period, wind speed seemed to have the greatest influence on chlorophyll-a and TSS concentrations.  There was no correlation observed between the water quality constituents and pressure, radiation, temperature, wind direction, and precipitation. 

(Supported by NASA's Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program)