Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ______________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606X Vol. 5(2), 89-92, February (2015) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 89 Diurnal Fluctuations in Physico-chemical Parameters at Madkot in Goriganga River from Kumaun Himalaya, India Ashok Kumar Department of Zoology, Kumaun University, Soban Singh Jeena Campus Almora (Uttarakhand) 263601, INDIA Available online at: www.isca.in, www.isca.me Received 11th February 2015, revised 15th February 2015, accepted 18th February 2015 AbstractField study was conducted to record Diurnal Fluctuations in Physico-chemical Parameters of Goriganga river at Madkot (about 1300 m above the sea level and 231 kms from University Campus) where Mandakni river joins Goriganga river. Some total eight Physico-chemical parameters, such as ambient temperature, water temperature, diddolved oxygen (D.O), free CO, ph, carbonate, bicarbonate and total alkalinity were monitored at 4 hour interval for a period of 24 hours from 6 a.m. on the 25th of February-2008 to 2 a.m. of 26th of February-2008. The recorded data showed that ambient temperature fluctuated between 9.0C to 20.4C, water temperature 7.0C to 11.0C, dissolved oxygen 11.6 mg/l to 15.2mg/l, ph 7.0 to 8.39 carbonate 4.0mg/l to 5.0mg/l, bicarbonate 132mg/l to 170mg/l and total alkalinity between 138mg/l to 166mg/l. Free carbondioxide(CO) was completely absent throughout the study period i.e. for 24 hours. In the present study a positive relationship between water temperature and dissolved oxygen was observed. Keywords: Diurnal, Fluctuations, Physico-chemicals, Madkot, Goriganga, Kumaun, Himalaya. Introduction The present note deals with the study of diurnal fluctuations in some physic-chemicals parameters of Goriganga river, a glacial fed river which originate from Milam glacier at an altitude of 3600m. The field study was made at Madkot at an altitude of 1300m where Mandakni river joins Goriganga river. The surface water of river was sampled at 4 hour interval for a period of 24 hours from 6 a.m. on the 25th of February-2008 to 2 a.m. of 26th of February-2008 when the weather was clear during day and night. The physico-chemical parameters like Ambient Temperature, water temperature, diddolved oxygen (D.O), free Co, pH, Carbonate, Bicarbonate and Total alkalinity were estimated during the present study. Many researchers have worked on diurnal fluctuations in physico-chemicals parameters of various fresh water bodies, i.e. lakes, ponds, reserviours and rivers2-10. Material and Methods After the preliminary survey of the Goriganga river, the spot was selected keeping in mind its accessible position at night for the study of Diurnal fluctuations. The study was made at Madkot-1300msl. In order to investigate the diurnal fluctuations in physico-chemical parameters of glacial fed Goriganga river, the surface water samples were collected at 4 hour interval for a period of 24 hours from 6 a.m. on the 25th of February-2008 to 2 a.m. of 26th of February-2008 when the weather was clear both during day and night. Most of the analysis were made on the spot. The phycico-chemical parameters like ambient temperature, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, free carbondioxide, pH, carbonate, bicarbonate and total alkalinity were estimated by using standard methods11-16. Results and Discussion Diurnal fluctuations in physico-chemicals parameters at Madkot (1300msl) of glacial fed mountainous Goriganga river recorded for 24 hours are tabulated in table-1. For the analysis of DIEL fluctuations in physico-chemicals, water samples were collected at the interval of 4 hours starting from 6 a.m. on the 25th of February-2008 to 2 a.m. of 26th of February-2008. Well marked DIEL variations have been recorded in most of the physico-chemical parameters. The parameter of temperature is basically important for its effects on the chemistry and biological reaction in the living organisms in water. A rise in temperature of the water speed up the chemical reaction in water, reduces the solubility of gases and amplifies the taste and odour. Atmospheric and water temperature varied between 9.0C to 20.5C and 7.0C to 11.0C. The maximum atmospheric temperature 20.5C was recorded during the day hours at 2p.m. and relatively minimum atmospheric temperature 9.0C was recorded during the night hours at 2a.m. figure-1. Surface water temperature followed the similar trend. The maximum water temperature 11.0C was again recorded during the day hours at 2 p.m. whereas minimum water temperature 7.0C was recorded during the night hours at 2a.m. figure-2. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 5(2), 89-92, February (2015) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 90 Table-1 Diurnal fluctuations in physico-chemical Parameters at Madkot in Goriganga riverDate Time Ambient Temperature C Water Temperature C Diddolved Oxygen (D.O)mg/l Free CO2 mg/l pH Carbonate mg/l Bicarbonate mg/l Total alkalinity mg/l 25/2/2008 6.A.M 9.5 7.5 13.6 Nil 8.0 4.0 148 160 25/2/2008 10.A.M 14.0 8.5 14.8 Nil 7.5 5.0 142 170 25/2/2008 2.P.M 20.5 11.0 15.2 Nil 7.72 4.0 132 142 25/2/2008 6.P.M 19.5 8.0 14.8 Nil 7.76 4.0 156 160 25/2/2008 10.P.M 11.0 7.5 12.0 Nil 7.0 4.0 170 166 26/2/2008 2.A.M 9.0 7.0 11.6 Nil 8.39 4.0 140 138 Figure-1 Diurnal Fluctuations in Ambient Temperature Figure-2 Diurnal Fluctuations in Water TemperatureThe dissolved oxygen produced during photosynthesis is essential for all the living organisms (aquatic and terrestrial) and considered to be the lone factor, which to a greater extent can reveal the nature of the whole aquatic ecosystem. The dissolved oxygen fluctuated between 11.6mg/l to 15.2mg/l in the present study figure-3. Maximum value of dissolved oxygen 15.2mg/l was recorded during the day hours at 2pm when the water temperature was 11.0C and minimum dissolved oxygen 11.6C was recorded during the night hours at 2am when the water temperature was 7.0C. It was observed that a positive relationship was observed between water temperature and dissolved oxygen during day and night hours. The present study further confirms the view of Singh et.al.17 that increase in dissolved oxygen during the day hours may be due to the photosynthetic activity of the autotrophs and decrease during night hours might be due to the respiratory activity of the heterotrophs. Figure-3 Diurnal Fluctuations in Dissolved Oxygen The pH is one of the most important factor in measuring water quality. Practically every aspect of water, like acid and base neutralization, water softening, precipitation, coagulation and acid disinfections is pH dependent. In the present study pH of water remained alkaline and fluctuated between 7.0 to 8.39 figure-4. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences ___________________________________________________________ ISSN 2231-606XVol. 5(2), 89-92, February (2015) Res. J. Chem. Sci. International Science Congress Association 91 Figure-4 Diurnal Fluctuations in pHFree carbondioxide(CO) was completely absent throughout the study period i.e. for 24hours. Carbonate fluctuated between 4.0mg/l to 5.0mg/l in the study. The bicarbonate fluctuated between 132mg/l to 170mg/l figure-5. Maximum concentration of bicarbonate 170mg/l was recorded at 10pm where as minimum value of bicarbonate 132mg/l was recorded at 2 pm figure-5. The values of total alkalinity ranged from 138mg/l to 170mg/l figure-6. Figure-5 Diurnal Fluctuations in Bicarbonate Conclusion From the result, it can be concluded that dissolved oxygen increases with the increase in temperature and thus showed positive relation. Higher values of Dissolved oxygen (D.O) confirms the oligotrophic nature of goriganga river. Physico-chemical parameters under investigation indicated that water at the surface level was well within the permissible limits prescribed by ISI, ICMR and WHO drinking water standards. Further, it is clear from the present study that some physic parameters of glacial fed mountainous Goriganga river under investigation for Diurnal fluctuations exhibit Diurnal pattern of fluctuation to some extent which are controlled by complex interaction of various environmental factors operating in the system e.g., light hours, photosynthetic activity, community respiration of aquatic biota present in the water. All these physico-chemical parameters also control each other and in turn influence the Diurnal pattern of plankton Figure-6 Diurnal Fluctuations in AlkalinityAcknowledgement The author is very much grateful to Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) Dehradun for providing financial assistance and authorities of Kumaun University for providing all the facilities and encouragement. References 1.Joshi S.N., Tripathi G. and Tewari H.C., Fish and Fisheries of Goriganga, Advacnes in limnology. (ed.) H.R. Singh. Narendra Publishing house, Delhi,361-368 (1993)2.Kumar Ashok., Studies on DIEL Fluctuations in Physico-Chemical parameters of Glacial fed Mountainous Goriganga River in Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India, Int. Res. J. Chem. Sci.,4(8), 58-61 (2014) 3.Kumar Ashok., DIEL Variations of Physico-chemical factors at BARAM in Glacial fed Mountainous Goriganga River of Uttarakhand, India, Int. Res. J. Chem. 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