Student Name(s): ____________________________________________

Date: ________________

WOW offers users several data visualization tools. These tools allow people to "see" changes in water quality parameters without looking directly at tables of numbers. Instead, the numbers are converted to graphs and colored images that can demonstrate how the lake has behaved over specific periods of time. The data visualization tools are found by clicking on the "data" link on the home page.

After you have first specified which lake you want to investigate, you have the option of selecting from a variety of data visualization tools. Most of these tools require the use of a computer language called "Java." Using java-based tools requires specific computer software and capacity. PCs using recent (as of September 1999) internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer 4.x or higher or Netscape 4.06, will be able to use the tools. Macs have to use Internet Explorer with the Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) 2.1 plug-in added. (The recent Netscape 4.6 for Macs may include the capacity to run Java).

Using the Profile Plotter:
1.Launch the Profile Plotter applet. A new page appears with a graph and plot in it. In the top right corner a lake name is listed followed by a triangle pointing down. If you click on this triangle you can select the lake you want to view from a pulldown menu that appears. Select Grindstone Lake.

2. In the boxes below you can select which water quality parameters you want to investigate. Make sure the boxes for "Temperature", "O2 Concentration", and "Clear between plots" are checked. If you see a check in another box, simply click in that box to make the check disappear.

3. Now select the date to investigate. The sliding bar under the date can be adjusted by clicking and holding on the gray button in the slider control. While holding the mouse down, slide the gray button until the date reads "Tue, Aug 17, 1999."

4. Now move your mouse pointer down and click on the "Get this Profile" button and a new graph of temperature and dissolved oxygen will appear for that date.

5. Between what two depths does the temperature make the most dramatic change? ____________________________________________

6. If you click on the >> button the plotter will advance through each water quality profile that has been collected by the RUSS. After clicking on the >> (fast forward) button you will see that you have the option of clicking on a "Stop" button if you want to pause the plotter to look at a specific graph. Click on the >> button.

7. On what date does the 1 meter temperature first reach 15 degrees in the fall of 1999? ______________________________

Notice how easy it will be to review many different sampling periods when you are looking for changes in a water quality parameter.

Using the Color Mapper
1. Beginning at the Ice Lake Data Visualization page, select the "Color Mapper. If your browser passes the test you will be able to launch the Color Mapper applet.

2. You will see that working with the Color Mapper is very similar to working with the Profile Plotter. Use the pull-down menu to select Ice Lake.

3. Use the sliding date scale to select Saturday, May 16, 1999(use the 6:00 CDT sampling time) and select the button for "Temperature" for the color map. Select the button for "pH" for the line plot.

Describe the color pattern you see on the screen of the color mapper. ______________________

What temperature range is represented by the colors on the color mapper for Ice Lake on May 16, 1999? _______________________

Now run the color mapper forward in time by clicking on the fastforward (>>) button. On what date does the water temperature at 1 m increase to 20 degrees Celsius? _____________________

How could you confirm the date you have selected through using the color mapper? __________________________________________

Describe what happened to the lake temperatures during June. ___________________________________________________