Global Rivers Observatory

Location

Rivers around the world; the Fraser River watershed in British Columbia is the test case for this LEO Project.

Description

Scientists from the Woods Hole Research Center and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have joined with partners from around the world to investigate river chemistry in Earth’s most significant river systems. Now active in 16 watersheds around the world the Global Rivers Observatory is measuring the chemical composition of rivers near their mouths where they empty into the ocean.

Want to get more involved with river monitoring? The Global Rivers Observatory is looking for volunteers who are willing to sample tributaries of the Fraser River in B.C., Canada, near the confluence with the Fraser River. They provide sample kits, instructions on how to take water samples, pay for shipping water samples back to their laboratories in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, and analyze the chemical composition of the tributaries to help better understand changes in the chemical composition of the Fraser River.

The Global Rivers Observatory is particularly interested in samples taken in winter, when water levels are very low, and during the spring freshet, when water levels are peaking. Rest assured, other volunteers without a science background are successfully working with the Global Rivers Observatory to assess the chemical composition of rivers around the world. YOU CAN HELP TOO.

The Global Rivers Observatory wants to use the Fraser River watershed as a test case for citizen science involvement to study the changing water quality of tributaries to the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. If successful, this sampling can expand to other rivers the Global River Observatory is studying (Yukon, Mackenzie, Ob, Yenisey, Lena, Kolyma, Sepik, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Congo, Amazon, Magdalena, Mississippi, Columbia)

Background

River water chemistry is determined by processes occurring in the river’s watershed. As a result, changes on land cause changes in river chemistry. Much as human health can be evaluated by analyzing blood chemistry, so too can watershed health be assessed by monitoring river water chemistry.

The Global Rivers Observatory is advancing understanding of how climate change, deforestation, and other disturbances are impacting river chemistry and land-ocean linkages. This knowledge is vital for tracking the health of Earth’s watersheds and for predicting how Earth’s water and chemical cycles will change in the future. As the human population approaches 9 billion people over the coming decades, this understanding will be essential as vast numbers of people that are dependent on the services rivers provide struggle to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

Observing Protocols

Sampling kits, sampling instructions, and shipping of samples to/from the Global Rivers Observatory laboratory will be provided. Participants "only" have to provide time and energy to go out and sample a tributary and mail samples back to our laboratory. In addition to the sampling kit protocols, participants document their exact location and any other sampling notes as LEO Network observations.

Inputs

Data and samples collected using the sampling kits. Data and observations recorded in LEO Network observations. Other data sources.

Outputs

LEO Network observations within this project will be added to the LEO observations map. Observations also available to the Global Rivers Observatory interfaces.

Project Updates

Please contact the project leader for information

Resources

Global Rivers Observatory

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