Environmental Measurements Handbook Archives - Page 2 of 2

1.1 Historical Context and Modern Innovations in Environmental Monitoring

This handbook provides a comprehensive guide to modern techniques in measuring the natural environment, including water quality, hydrology, weather, and soil. It focuses on environmental monitoring and data collection, including sensors, remote data acquisition systems, and cloud-based data management. Its aim is to be a practical resource for environmental professionals, researchers, and students to quickly locate […]

3.7 Chlorophyll and Blue-Green Algae

Chlorophyll is a pigment found in plant cells and some microorganisms, such as algae and cyanobacteria. It gives these organisms their characteristic green color by reflecting the green wavelengths found in sunlight and plays a central role in the process of photosynthesis. There are several different chlorophyll molecule variants that exist. Chlorophyll-a is present in […]

3.6 ORP

Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP), also known as Redox Potential, is a measure of water’s ability to facilitate chemical processes that either oxidize or reduce substances within it. It indicates the presence and activity of agents that can accept or donate electrons. ORP is measured in terms of electric potential with standard units of millivolts (mV). Readings […]

3.5 pH

pH has a complex role in water chemistry as it influences the solubility, reactivity, and potential toxicity of a wide range of elements commonly found in water.

3.4 Turbidity

Turbidity is the state of relative clarity or cloudiness of water. Many factors can contribute to increased turbidity. The most obvious are suspended sediments consisting of various sand, silt, clay and gravel particles. These may be introduced by soil erosion, urban runoff, bottom-dwelling aquatic creatures that stir up settled sediments, or human activities such as […]

3.3 Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved oxygen, often abbreviated as DO, is the amount of free oxygen molecules (O2) dissolved in water. Oxygen enters the water through atmospheric diffusion, plant photosynthesis, or aeration (either natural or man-made). DO is typically represented in measurement units as percent of air saturation (%sat) and concentration in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per […]

3.2 Conductivity, Salinity and Total Dissolved Solids

Conductivity, often denoted as EC (electrical conductivity), is a measure of a water sample’s ability to conduct electric current. It is primarily determined by the presence of dissolved salts and other inorganic substances that ionize in water. Such substances are known as electrolytes, and they conduct electricity due to their positive and negative charges. The […]

3.1 Water Temperature

Water temperature is a physical property of water indicating its relative hotness or coldness. More specifically, it is the measure of the thermal energy produced by the vibrations of water molecules. Inputs such as solar radiation increase the kinetic energy of the molecular vibrations, thereby increasing the temperature. The Celsius scale with units of degrees […]

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