Even though it's beautiful...
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| Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania (P/C Wikimedia) |
... troubles lie beneath the surface.
The mighty Susquehanna River begins near Cooperstown, NY from the confluence of two main branches: the North Branch, and the West Branch, which join in central Pennsylvania. Between the source and the river's destination in Chesapeake Bay, hundreds of tributaries join with the main river.
The river drainage is around 27,500 square miles (71,000 km2), which is nearly half of the land area of Pennsylvania, and is the single largest inflow into the Chesapeake Bay.
As you can imagine, the Susquehanna River is fairly heavily polluted with agricultural runoff and sewage picked up during its long run to the sea. But there’s one truly dramatic point-source of pollution that changes the color of an important tributary from clear to… what?
That’s today’s Challenge.
1. Can you find this truly amazing point-source of pollution in a tributary of the Susquehanna River? Where is it? What’s the point source called and what tributary does it flow into? Why is it even there?
2. What color is the water just downstream from this point source?
The backstory is fascinating. Can you figure it out?
Be sure to let us know HOW you found it out. What steps did you follow? Did you just use an AI? How well did that work for you?
Keep searching.
I started with AI asking Perplexity.
ReplyDeleteI used your query adding the change of color in the water.
Now I have to try regular Search and verify the results but it is a good start.
Here is the question and answer:
https://www.perplexity.ai/search/can-you-find-this-truly-amazin-.pVE7y3pRMOt3u5_VIYcKQ#0
And now I'm wondering now that I shared the link, for how long it's available? If I click on it let's say in a year, the answer will be there?
With [Susquehanna River water change of color] I got results of water changing in 2025 due to rain that produced mud.
DeleteAlso found:
2021: One-Third of U.S. Rivers Have Changed Color Since 1984
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/one-third-of-us-rivers-have-changed-color-since-1984
[tributary of the susquehanna river water change of color]
From 3 years ago: ELI5 please what is going on with Susquehanna River looking like it is cutting through high lands?
https://www.reddit.com/r/geology/comments/111b3nq/eli5_please_what_is_going_on_with_susquehanna/
Asked Google the same question Dr. Russell posted witouth changinng anytthing
AI generated vision says:
Point source is likely the Iron Bridge (or Curtin Dam/Spillway) on Bald Eagle Creek (a tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna)
Finally, as I couldn't find the color, returned to Perplexity and there I got:Search for "acid mine drainage orange river Pennsylvania"
I'll try that