Autonomous underwater vehicle provides high-resolution observations of water quality and much more. Photo (c) Peter Berrini, HDR, Inc., used by permission.

Noteworthy

National & Regional Science:

• Fact Sheet: Integrated Synoptic Surveys Using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Manned Boats
• Press Release: Decades-old Nitrate Found to Affect Stream Water Quality
• Circular 1383-G: USGS Water Science Strategy – Observing, Understanding, Predicting, and Delivering Water Science to the Nation
• OFR 2013-1054: User's Manual for the National Water Information System of the USGS
• Press Release: New water-quality test for preventing unnecessary beach closures

Local Science Features:

• New Hampshire: Concentrations of Chloride and Sodium in Groundwater in New Hampshire From 1960 Through 2011
• Arkansas:
  • –Press Release: No Contamination from Fayetteville Shale Exploration Found in Sampled Wells
  • –USGS Report: Shallow Groundwater Quality and Geochemistry in the Fayetteville Shale Gas-Production Area, North-Central Arkansas, 2011
  • –Journal Article: Geochemical and isotopic variations in shallow groundwater in areas of the Fayetteville shale development, north-central Arkansas 

Past listings...

Water Quality Data

National Water Information System (NWIS)

NWIS provides current and historical water-quality data.

Today's Water Conditions

Water-Quality Watch provides continuous real-time water-quality measurements.

Water-Quality Web Services

Web services automate the sharing of USGS and USEPA water-quality monitoring data.

For More Data

Additional water-quality data resources are available.

USGS in Your Area

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Chapter A6. Field Measurements

National Field Manual for the Collection of Water-Quality Data (TWRI Book 9)

6.1 Temperature

Revised By F.D. Wilde

This section of Chapter 6 is available as a pdf file:
6.1, Version 2 (dated March 2006) [426KB PDF]

Download a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.

Abstract

Accurate temperature measurements are required for accurate determinations of important environmental parameters such as pH, specific electrical conductance, and dissolved oxygen, and to the determination of chemical reaction rates and equilibria, biological activity, and physical fluid properties. This section of the National Field Manual (NFM) describes U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) guidance and protocols for measurement of temperature in air, ground water, and surface water and calibration of the equipment used.

Contents

6.1 Temperature

6.1.1 - Equipment and supplies

6.1.1.A - Maintenance, cleaning, and storage

6.1.2 - Calibration

6.1.2.A - Calibration thermometers

6.1.2.B - Field thermometers

6.1.3 - Measurement

6.1.3.A - Air

6.1.3.B - Surface water

6.1.3.C - Ground water

6.1.4 - Troubleshooting

6.1.5 - Reporting

Selected references

Acknowledgments

Return to Chapter A6 Contents Page

Return to Field Manual Table of Contents

Section 6.1 Archived Versions:

• Archive: 6.1, Version 1.2, dated April 2004 (765KB PDF)
• Archive: 6.1, Version 1.1, dated September 2002 (65KB PDF)
• Archive: 6.1, First Release, dated April 1998 (10KB PDF)