USGS

Diurnal variations in water quality at surface-water-quality stations in New Jersey

Two primary causes of diurnal variations in dissolved-oxygen concentration (DO), pH, and specific conductance are photosynthesis and aerobic respiration. Photosynthesis is driven by sunlight and produces free oxygen, which causes an increase in DO during the day. Algal, microbial, and plant respiration consumes free oxygen, which causes a decrease in DO, and releases carbon dioxide during the night. Because visits to surface-water-quality stations typically take place between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., these variations generally are not observed.

In an effort to document the occurrence and magnitude of these diurnal variations when stream-flow was at base-flow levels, water temperature (degrees Celsius), DO (milligrams per liter), percent of dissolved-oxygen saturation (percent), specific conductance (micro-Siemens per centimeter), and pH (units) were monitored continuously and recorded hourly at 61 stations during water years 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005. The continuous measurements were made by using multi-constituent sensors, or monitors, deployed for 3 to 6 days at U.S. Geological Survey surface-water-quality stations during June, July, August, and September. The stations were selected on the basis of previous occurrences of DO supersaturation (greater than 120 percent of saturation) or undersaturation (less than 60 percent of saturation) during routine station visits.

In water year 2002, water temperature, DO, percent of dissolved-oxygen saturation, specific conductance, and pH were monitored continuously at three stations in the Passaic River Basin: Pompton Plains (01388500), Passaic River at Little Falls (01389500), and Saddle River at Lodi (01391500). The monitors were deployed for five 1-week periods during the summer months of a State-declared drought emergency with modified allowable passing flows in the basin (William Honachefsky, N. J. Department of Environmental Protection, written commun., April 2003). Although the intent was to obtain measurements under base-flow conditions, about 1 inch of rain fell during June 10-14.

Station Number
(links to site description)		Station NameWater YearBeginning date of record
01367625WALLKILL RIVER AT SPARTA NJ2003July 7, 2003
01367770WALLKILL RIVER NEAR SUSSEX NJ2003August 5, 2003
01367780PAPAKATING CREEK NEAR WYKERTOWN NJ2001July 17, 2001
01367800PAPAKATING CREEK AT PELLETTOWN NJ2001July 20, 2001
01368820DOUBLE KILL AT WAWAYANDA NJ2000August 8, 2000
01377000 HACKENSACK RIVER AT RIVERVALE NJ 2007 August 4, 2006
01378350 TENAKILL BROOKK AT CRESSKILL NJ 2007 August 11, 2006
01378387TENAKILL BK AT OLD CLOSTER DOCK RD AT CLOSTER NJ2001July 19, 2001
01378560COLES BK AT HACKENSACK NJ2000September 5, 2000
01378780PRIMROSE BK AT MORRISTOWN NATIONAL HIST PARK NJ2000August 7, 2000
01379000PASSAIC RIVER NEAR MILLINGTON NJ2000August 24, 2000
01379200DEAD RIVER NEAR MILLINGTON NJ2001July 13, 2001
01379580PASSAIC RIVER NEAR HANOVER NECK NJ 2005 September 15, 2005
01381800WHIPPANY RIVER NEAR PINE BROOK NJ2000August 28, 2000
01381800WHIPPANY RIVER NEAR PINE BROOK NJ2001July 13, 2001
01382000PASSAIC RIVER AT TWO BRIDGES NJ 2005 September 1, 2005
01382500PEQUANNOCK RIVER AT MACOPIN INTAKE DAM NJ2001July 13, 2001
01388000RAMAPO RIVER AT POMPTON LAKES NJ2000August 2, 2000
01388500POMPTON RIVER AT POMPTON PLAINS NJ2002May 6, 2002
01388500POMPTON RIVER AT POMPTON PLAINS NJ2002May 28, 2002
01388500POMPTON RIVER AT POMPTON PLAINS NJ2002June 10, 2002
01388500POMPTON RIVER AT POMPTON PLAINS NJ2002June 24, 2002
01388500POMPTON RIVER AT POMPTON PLAINS NJ2002July 16 , 2002
01389005PASSAIC R BELOW POMPTON R AT TWO BRIDGES NJ2000August 8, 2000
01389138DEEPAVAAL BROOK AT FAIRFIELD NJ2000August 15, 2000
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002May 6, 2002
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002May 12, 2002
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002May 28, 2002
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002June 10, 2002
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002June 24, 2002
01389500PASSAIC RIVER AT LITTLE FALLS NJ2002July 16, 2002
01391100HOHOKUS BROOK AT MOUTH AT PARAMUS NJ2000September 5, 2000
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2000September 5, 2000
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2001July 16, 2001
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2002May 6, 2002
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2002May 28, 2002
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2002June 10, 2002
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2002June 24, 2002
01391500SADDLE RIVER AT LODI NJ2002July 16, 2002
01391550SADDLE RIVER AT GARFIELD NJ2001July 17, 2001
01393450 ELIZABETH RIVER AT URSINO DAM AT ELIZABETH NJ 2007 August 18, 2006
01393690 MORSES CREEK AT WEST STIMSON AVE AT LINDEN NJ 2007 August 25, 2006
01393960WB RAHWAY RIV AT NORTHFIELD AVE AT WEST ORANGE NJ 2005 September 1, 2005
01394500RAHWAY RIVER NEAR SPRINGFIELD NJ2001July 12, 2001
01395000RAHWAY RIVER AT RAHWAY NJ2001July 12, 2001
01396550SPRUCE RUN AT NEWPORT NJ2000August 21, 2000
01396550SPRUCE RUN AT NEWPORT NJ2001July 6, 2001
01396660MULHOCKAWAY CREEK AT VAN SYCKEL NJ2003July 14, 2003
01396800SPRUCE RUN AT CLINTON NJ 2005 September 8, 2005
01398000NESHANIC RIVER AT REAVILLE NJ2003July 14, 2003
01398102SB RARITAN R AT SOUTH BRANCH NJ2000August 2, 2000
01398102SB RARITAN R AT SOUTH BRANCH NJ2001July 9, 2001
01399780LAMINGTON RIVER AT BURNT MILLS NJ2001July 9, 2001
01400500RARITAN RIVER AT MANVILLE NJ2003August 28, 2003
01402000MILLSTONE RIVER AT BLACKWELLS MILLS NJ2001July 31, 2001
01403300RARITAN R AT QUEENS BRIDGE AT BOUND BROOK NJ2003July 28, 2003
01403385BOUND BROOK AT ROUTE 28 AT MIDDLESEX NJ2001July 10, 2001
01408710JAKES BRANCH AT SOUTH TOMS RIVER NJ 2005 September 30, 2005
01409416HAMMONTON CREEK AT WESCOATVILLE NJ2001August 20, 2001
01411400FISHING C AT RIO GRANDE NJ2001June 25, 2001
01411955GRAVELLY RUN AT LAUREL LAKE NJ2000August 29, 2000
01440000FLAT BROOK NEAR FLATBROOKVILLE NJ2000August 17, 2000
01440000FLAT BROOK NEAR FLATBROOKVILLE NJ2001July 19, 2001
01442760DUNNFIELD CREEK AT DUNNFIELD NJ2000August 17, 2000
01443250PAULINS KILL AT WARBASSE JCT RD NEAR LAFAYETTE NJ2003July 21, 2003
01445160BEAR BROOK AT DARK MOON ROAD NEAR JOHNSONBURG NJ2003July 21, 2003
01445900HONEY RUN NEAR HOPE NJ2003August 19, 2003
01455120POHATCONG CK AT JANES CHAPEL RD AT MOUNT BETHEL NJ2003August 19, 2003
01457400MUSCONETCONG R AT RIEGELSVILLE NJ2001July 6, 2001
01463500DELAWARE RIVER AT TRENTON NJ2000September 1, 2000
01463850MIRY RUN AT ROUTE 533 AT MERCERVILLE NJ2001July 5, 2001
01464020ASSUNPINK C AT PEACE ST AT TRENTON NJ 2005 September 8, 2005
01464420CROSSWICKS CREEK NEAR NEW EGYPT NJ2007September 20, 2006
01464504CROSSWICKS CK AT GROVEVILLE RD AT GROVEVILLE NJ2007September 20, 2006
01464515DOCTORS CREEK AT ALLENTOWN NJ2000August 9, 2000
01464527BLACKS C AT CHESTERFIELD NJ2001August 16, 2001
01464529BACONS RUN NEAR MANSFIELD SQUARE NJ2003July 7, 2003
01464578ANNARICKEN BROOK NEAR JOBSTOWN NJ2003July 7, 2003
01466500MCDONALDS BRANCH IN BYRNE STATE FOREST NJ2000September 12, 2000
01467359NB BIG TIMBER C AT GLENDORA NJ2001September 4, 2001
01482500SALEM RIVER AT WOODSTOWN NJ2001July 24, 2001
01482530MAJOR RUN AT SHARPTOWN NJ2001July 24, 2001

AccessibilityFOIAPrivacyPolicies and Notices
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://nj.usgs.gov/qw/diurnal_do/
Page Contact Information: NJ Webmaster
Last modified: Monday, October 15 2007, 11:05:55 AM 		FirstGov button  Take Pride in America button