Parâmetros físicos (temperatura, condutividade elétrica e turbidez) na avaliação de corpos de água impactados na área urbana da cidade de Manaus, AM

Abstract

The Physics is an area of great reach in modern society, however, there is little application in environmental diagnostics using only physical variables. In view of this, the present study aimed to evaluate three physical variables (temperature, electrical conductivity and turbidity) in an urban watershed located in the center of the industrial pole of Manaus: The Educandos Hydrographic Basin – EHB. Nine points were selected in the EHB and the water samples were collected on the surface of the water bodies in polyethylene bottles. The samples were taken to the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory of the National Institute for Research in the Amazon. The water temperature was determined in the field with a mercury thermometer. Electrical conductivity and turbidity were analyzed by electrochemical methods, with benchtop instruments. The results showed temperature values above 30°C, which suggests a lack of afforestation on the banks of water bodies, values higher than two decades ago. The electrical conductivity presented values above 400 μS cm-1, which denotes the large amount of electrolytes released in these environments, naturally characterized as poorly conductive, and the high turbidity suggests upturned soils on the margins. The only exception was point P1, which still retains the natural physical conditions of this watershed.