International Journal of Marine Science 2015, Vol.5, No.49: 1-9
3
Results of the present study showed that the air
temperature in all stations were high during summer
and low during winter. Temperature at Al-Qurna
ranged from 12.0 to- 38.8
℃
. paper factory ranged was
from 14.8-36.4°C, Al- Sindebad ranged from
14.0-33.0°C, Al-Ashar ranged from 12.0-34.0
℃
, in
Al-Sebah ranged from 16.5-40.3
℃
and in Al-Fao
ranged from 17.4 -39.0
℃
.
Water temperature varies in accordance with ambient
air temperature. The spatial variations in water
temperature among stations may be due to the
variation in the sampling time at each station, or the
depth of water at each station .The minimum (12
℃
)
and maximum (45
℃
) water temperature were recorded
during winter and summer months respectively, with a
mean water temperature of (27.83
℃
) (Tables 2). The
seasonal mean values of water temperature during
winter and summer were (13.6
℃
) and (44
℃
)
respectively. The highest variations in water temperature
between winter and summer was depending mainly on
the variations in the air temperature , which was the
highest in summer because of the long day period , and
the lowest in winter because of the short day period. A
significant correlation (r = 0.926 , p<0.01) was found
between water and air temperatures. These results
agree with 13-33.4
℃
obtained by Al-Hejuje 2015 .
The value of pH in natural water is affected by
geological shed water and balance of CO
2
, H
2
CO
3
and
CO
3
. It ranged from 4.5-8.0 (Gems 1997), effected by
processes which can be changed the concentration of
dissolved CO
2
. pH value effected on transpiration
process between nutrient type and mineral it affection
pollution toxic , which containing basic and acidic
compound because of the ionization process (Gems,
1977). PH affects many chemical and biological
processes in the water. For example, different organisms
flourish within different ranges of pH. The largest
variety of aquatic animals prefers a range of 6.5-8.0.
pH outside this range reduces the diversity in the
stream because it stresses the physiological systems of
most organisms and can reduce reproduction. Low pH
can also allow toxic elements and compounds to
become mobile and "available" for uptake by aquatic
plants and animals. This can produce conditions that
are toxic to aquatic life, particularly to sensitive
species of fish. Changes in acidity can be caused by
atmospheric deposition (acid rain), surrounding rock,
and certain wastewater discharges Variations in pH
were very large during the study period .The minimum
(7. 0) and maximum (8.91) pH was recorded during
autumn and winter months respectively, with a mean
pH of 7.92 . The mean values of pH during winter and
summer were 7.92 and 8.21, respectively This result
agrees with Al- Kazaeh (2014)(7.4-7.9) and Al-Hejuje
(2015) (7.4-8.52) .
DO levels fluctuate seasonally and over a 24-hour
period. They vary with water temperature and altitude.
Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water and
water holds less oxygen at higher altitudes. Thermal
discharges, such as water used to cool machinery in a
manufacturing plant or a power plant, raise the
temperature of water and lower its oxygen content.
Aquatic animals are most vulnerable to low DO levels
in the early morning on hot summer days when stream
flows are low, water temperatures are high, and
aquatic plants have not been producing oxygen since
sunset. Fluctuations in DO were wide along Shatt
Al-Arab during winter and summer. The minimum
(5.3 mg/L) and maximum (9.3 mg/L). DO were
recorded during summer and winter months, respectively,
with a mean DO of 7.63 mg/L . The mean values of
DO during summer and winter were 6.37 and 8.57
mg/L, respectively. The dissolved oxygen content of
water is influenced by the sources, raw water
temperature and chemical or biological processes
taking place in the aquatic system. The reduction of
dissolved oxygen at some stations (especially at
Al-Ashar ) during Summer and Autumn seasons can
be due to the increasing in the untreated domestic
sewage which polluted the water with reducing
substances (such as nitrite) or due to organic
pollutants which fasten the consumption of dissolved
oxygen in water during warm months Low levels of
dissolved oxygen in some stations are a sign of
pollution and then , it is an essential parameter to be
taken into consideration when the objective is to
assess the water quality (ALHejuje ,2015).
Total solids suspended levels varied over wide range
of 2.50-332.00 mg/L (Table 1). The minimum (4
mg/L) and maximum (187 mg/L) levels were recorded
during summer months, respectively, with a mean
value of 59.26 mg/L. The seasonal mean values of
total solid suspended during winter and summer were
33 and 73.83 mg/L, respectively (Table.2). Fluctuation
