School Of Mines and Geoscience

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Browsing School Of Mines and Geoscience by Author "Athuman, Charles B."

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    The Limnogeology of the Lakes Sagara and Nyamagoma: Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology
    (2008) Nkotagu, Hudson H.; Athuman, Charles B.
    The present study focllses 011 the IiI1l11ogeological aspects of the lakes Sagara and Nyalllagoma within tITe Malagarasi Wetland Ecosystem. Abiotic parameters frol11 water and sediment samples were determined during the d,y and wet seasons using appropriate gears and methods. The data show variation of the abiotic parameters in both lakes from the water sUiface to the bottolll. Lake Nyamagoma is less turbid (0.7-24 NTU) than Lake Sagara (25 to 65 NTU). The water transparency was also high at Lake Nyamagollla (0.75-1.5 111) thus supporting the observed turbidity trend. The physical chemical changes may be attributed to processes such as cooling, dissociation, dissolutioll, decomposition, adsorption, precipitation, cation exchange and photosynthesis. However, higher nutrient concentration was obsel1Jed in the wet season than d,y season with the exception of SiD] consequent to dilution effect by sUlface runoff. The mineralogical content (Kaolinite, Smectite, lllite and Quartz) of the lake sediments indicate existence of good drainage conditions at the lakes as supported by the geology of the area, It is recommended that a long-term lilllnogeological mOllitoring alld evaluation be conducted so as to understand future nutrient hydrodynamics and hydrological functioning of the wetland ecosystem.
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    The Limnology of the lake Tanganyika Sub Catchment
    (2007) Nkotagu, Hudson H.; Athuman, Charles B.
    A limnological study covering the Lake Tanganyika sub catchment was conducted during the dry season at 20 accessible sites on 8 rivers, 2 lakes and a dam. Standard methods were used to determine the levels of abiotic parameters from water samples. Physical parameters including EC, Eh, turbidity, temperature, pH and secchi transparency were measured in situ while chlorophyll a was determined in the laboratory. Nutrients such as NO3 - , SiO2, PO4 3- and Fe2+ were determined along with HCO3 - . Significant changes in the levels of the abiotic parameters and nutrients have been observed at various sampling sites throughout the study area. The mean variation of NO3 - , SiO2, PO4 3- and Fe2+ concentrations with depth ranged from 0.4 to 2.6 mg l -1, 2.7 to 35.3 mg l -1, 0.01 to 0.16 mg l -1 and from <0.010 to 0.020 mg l -1 respectively for the entire sub catchment. Data conclude that processes including dissolution, diffusion, adsorption, absorption, nitrification, denitrification, mixing and reduction along with the anthropogenic activities and increased photosynthetic activity of algae contribute to the variation of the abiotic parameters. It is recommended that quantification of river flows, sediment load and nutrient budget at various sampling points be determined seasonally for proper evaluation of the limnological functioning of the ecosystem.
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    Water Quality Assessment and Application of the Hydrochemistry Specific Ion Ratios to Lake Nyamagoma
    (Academic Journals, 2012) Athuman, Charles B.; Nkotagu, Hudson H.
    Attempts have been made to investigate the water quality aspects at 8 sampling sites in Lake Nyamagoma by applying the hydrochemistry specific ion ratios during both wet and dry seasons. Standard methods and experimental procedures were acquired to analyze the filtered water samples in the laboratory using the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) machine for chemical determination. Data from the study depict significant variations in the water quality parameters across the two seasons amongst the sampling sites. This phenomenon hampers the water quality in the lake. Various processes are inferred as driving forces including dissolution, precipitation, decomposition, nitrification, denitrification, fixation, evaporation-crystallization, cation exchange, adsorption, photosynthesis and dilution effect. The geology of the area also seems to favor the observed trends. It is recommended that a long term water quality assessment be acquired to sustainably address the environmental management aspects of the Lake Nyamagoma within the Malagarasi Wetland Ecosystem.