What is Conductivity?
Salinity and conductivity measure the water's ability to conduct electricity, which provides a measure of what is dissolved in water. In the SWMP data, a higher conductivity value indicates that there are more chemicals dissolved in the water.
Conductivity measures the water's ability to conduct electricity. It is the opposite of resistance. Pure, distilled water is a very poor conductor of electricity. When salts and other inorganic chemicals dissolve in water, they break into tiny, electrically charged particles called ions. Ions increase the water's ability to conduct electricity. Common ions in water that conduct electrical current include sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. Because dissolved salts and other inorganic chemicals conduct electrical current, conductivity increases as salinity increases. Organic compounds, such as sugars, oils, and alcohols, do not form ions that conduct electricity.
Why is Conductivity Important?
Aquatic animals and plants are adapted for a certain range of salinity. Outside of this range, they will be negatively affected and may die. Some animals can handle high salinity, but not low salinity, while others can handle low salinity, but not high salinity.
In addition to its direct effects on aquatic life, salinity also has many other important effects on water chemistry and water density.
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