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- Dissolved oxygen(DO) is used by marine organisms for respiration, or "breathing." DO can come from 1) marine plants and algae, 2) the atmosphere through the surface layer of water, and 3) wind, water flow, and currents. In DO, parts per million (ppm) is equal to milligrams per liter (mg/L).
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- pH is the measure of hydrogen ion concentrations in a
solution. This measurement shows the solution's alkalinity or acidity.
It is measured on a scale of 0-14, with the most acidic being 0 and most alkaline being 14. In salt water, the pH usually stays between 7 and 8 because of the salinity.
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- Salinity is the amount of salts dissolved in water, usually expressed in parts per thousand (ppt). Ocean water stays fairly consistant at 35 ppt. Estuarine water ranges in salinity depending on rainfall, runoff, water depth, evaporation, and tides. Estuaries receive their salt water influx from the ocean.
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- Specific conductivity is the measure of electricity conducted. Salts dissolved in water conduct electricity. Salinity can be derived by correcting the conductivity measurement for the effect of temperature.
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- Temperature can be important in estuaries, too. Higher temperatures generally cause the DO levels to go down, especially during the summer months. Low levels of DO will have an effect on the organisms living in that water.
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- Turbidity, simply put, is the cloudiness in water.
Suspended solid matter that scatters light while passing through the water column makes the water turbid. Turbidity may be the result of excess plankton and sediment.
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- Water depth (not shown) ranges between 0.3 and 1.3 meters, depending on the
tide stage.
Typically, there are two high and two low tides each day. Notice that water depth is not the same from one high tide to the next due to the changing position of the moon relative to the sun, as well as changes in wind speed and direction.
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