Algae Contamination Threatens Accurate Water Quality Monitoring
The researchers conducted laboratory experiments to study how green algae called Chlorella affects the measurement of water clarity, known as turbidity. They found that the concentration of Chlorella has a significant impact on turbidity readings, especially at low turbidity levels. When there is little algae in the water, the measurement error is higher compared to situations with higher algal concentrations. By analyzing specific characteristics of the light absorbed by Chlorella and water, they could better understand and predict changes in water quality. These findings can lead to more accurate monitoring of different substances suspended in water and the development of improved turbidity sensors.