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Estuaries in NSW

Estuarine Water Quality

Turbidity

Turbidity refers to the ability of water to transmit light. As such, the measurement of turbidity is of direct relevance to potential photosynthetic activity of submerged aquatic plants. Suspended solids reduce the ability of water to transmit light, the degree of reduction depending upon the concentration of solids and their ability to absorb and scatter light. In the laboratory, turbidity is measured by the degree of scattering produced when light is shone through a water sample under standard test conditions. In the field, turbidity is determined by lowering a standard black and white disc (Secchi Disc) into the water and measuring the depth at which it can no longer be seen.

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