Dissolved Oxygen Sag Curves and Dead Zones
Activity - Classroom
Grades9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences
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What it is
- This interactive model lets students explore how pollution and environmental conditions affect dissolved oxygen in rivers.
- Students adjust variables such as water temperature, salinity, elevation, flow rate, and discharge to see how the dissolved oxygen sag curve, biochemical oxygen demand curve, and river zones respond.
- A guided case study recreates the 1858 “Big Stink” on the Thames River in London.
Teaching tips
Preparation:
- Before students enter the interactive resource, tell them not to adjust the controls until directions are given, as the Big Stink exercise asks that some of the controls remain at their defaults.
Climate Change Connections:
- Highlight the impact of warmer temperatures on dissolved oxygen and discuss the impact this may have on the ecosystem as average temperatures rise. Use the final question to transition into this discussion.
Prerequisites:
• Pre-teaching of the content-specific vocabulary in this lesson will support comprehension.
- Consider reviewing how to read a graph.
Options for Action:
- The final question about a warming climate is a strong prompt for connecting the model to real-world dead zones and can lead into researching a local waterway.
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