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INFLUENCE OF THE RAINFALL REGIME ON THE HYDROCHEMISTRY OF URBAN LAKES: A STUDY ON THE UFMA CAMPUS USING GLOBE OBSERVER
Organization(s):UFMA - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MARANHÃO
Country:Brazil
Student(s):Ana Luiza de Cássia Santos Raymundo, Amanda Lilia Santos Leão, Rebeca Bezerra Praseres, Viviane Florêncio Gonçalves Da Silva, Arthur Saminez Franco, Gabriel Câmara Cavalcanti, Danillo Castro Ribeiro, Grazyelly Kauany, Leite da Luz, Letícia dos Santos Sousa, Luis Fernando Baldy Gomes, João Victor Rodrigues Serra, Mirian Francisca Ribeiro de Aquino, Nicole Vieira Guimarães, Endrelly Rayanne Coelho Moraes.
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):Geyse Ribeiro, Nubia Rodrigues, João Santos
Contributors:Hilton Costa Louzeiro, Priscila Bernardes Silva, Alana Gandra Lima De Moura, Harvey Alexander Villa Velez, Aline Bessa Veloso
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Alkalinity, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrates, pH, Salinity, Water Temperature, Water Transparency
Presentation Poster:
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-03-01
This study investigated how the rainfall regime influences water composition in two urban lakes located on the UFMA campus in São Luís, Brazil. Between November 2025 and January 2026, students from the Technical Course in Environmental Studies became citizen scientists. Using the GLOBE Observer program protocol, they collected physicochemical data and recorded observations of the water bodies. The results showed that the transition to the rainy season alters water dynamics, but in different ways in each lake. Lagoa Dom exhibited greater stability, while Lagoa do Jambeiro, which is more exposed to the surrounding urban environment, responded with more pronounced changes. In both lakes, rainfall produced two simultaneous effects: a dilution effect, reducing salt concentrations and pH, and a sediment enrichment effect, increasing water turbidity. The study reinforces that the behavior of these ecosystems is seasonal and strongly influenced by their surroundings. In addition, it highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and the potential of citizen science to generate relevant knowledge and promote the preservation of aquatic environments under urban pressure.
Keywords: Hydrochemistry; Urban lakes; GLOBE; Citizen science.