Mobile Water Quality Laboratory - Sonde (July 2013)

The response of a high-altitude, New Mexico watershed to seasonal events is the subject of investigation at the New Mexico Tech Mobile Water Quality Laboratory. The study is founded on observing changes in the quality of stream water via continuous (high temporal resolution) chemical measurements. The major focus of the study is dissolved organic matter (DOM) which is approximated with organic carbon measurements. (Organic and inorganic carbon concentrations are measured every measured every 8 to 15 minutes on site.) An EXO sonde (YSI Inc., Yellow Springs, OH 45387) is measuring basic physicochemical characteristics to supplement the carbon data. Samples are collected from the East Fork of the Jemez River near Hidden Valley at an instrumented meander where several ecological and hydrological studies are concurrently taking place.