- Oxygen concentration – the sensor measures the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water.
- The oxygen enters the water at the surface where the atmosphere is in contact with the water.
- The uptake increases width turbulent activity, such as waves.
- Oxygen level is greatest at the surface and this can give oceanographers information about for how long water has been at the surface.
- Oxygen content in the water can also indicate how long a water mass has been left untouched, ie not renewed by mixing with other bodies of water.
- This is because organisms (like bacteria) use the oxygen so that the oxygen concentration over time will decrease. In this way, the oxygen content can be a measure of the age of the water.
- Because of this, oxygen is used as kind of "trace element" and characteristic of a particular water mass.
- Measured in mg / l, but data shown is percent oxygen saturation.
