In This Issue:
Water Quality with CBL
Logger Pro for iMac
New Stuff
CBL™ News
Innovative Uses
Bits and Bytes
Go to past issues of
The Caliper
Return to
Vernier Home Page
A Publication for Users of Vernier Products
It's Here! Water Quality with CBL™
by Robyn L. Johnson, Scott Holman,and Dan D. Holmquist
We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our series of popular CBL lab manuals, Water Quality with CBL (order code WQCBL, $35). This 250-page manual (and accompanying CD) is a complete solution for using the Texas Instruments CBL™ System and Vernier sensors to determine the water quality of streams, lakes, and seawater. The manual provides students and teachers with easy-to-follow directions for a wide variety of water tests. A comprehensive student introduction is included with each test, so students know why they are making a measurement, and what kind of results to expect. A Data and Calculations sheet is included for each test, on which data for stream sites are recorded and calculations performed.
This manual includes all nine of the tests that are commonly included in the Water Quality Index, or WQI. We did so because many schools and organizations like to use the WQI to obtain a value that reflects their stream's quality. The WQI tests (along with the Vernier sensor that is used) include
|
Temperature...............................................Temperature
Probe |
 Finding Alkalinity of a Sample |
In addition, we include a large number of other important water
tests:
|
Ammonium Nitrogen.......................................Ammonium
ISE |
 Finding Phosphate Concentration |
- Advanced Information for Instructors or Student Research. Teachers or students can find in-depth background information about the specie being measured, as well as helpful hints for performing tests, collecting samples, or preparing standard solutions. In the appendix, you will find directions for downloading data onto your computer, analyzing data in our Graphical Analysis program, and running the all-purpose CHEMBIO data collection program.
- A Complete Resource
Manual.
Whether you are testing freshwater or
saltwater, lakes or streams, you will find the information you
need. We include details for locating or purchasing a wide
variety of resource texts, internet web sites, and water-quality
organizations. Many of these organizations have web sites where
students can contribute and compare the results they obtain with
students in other regions of the country.
- CD Included with Word-Processing Files and Programs. Our CD contains the word-processing files for each of the tests in the manual (in Macintosh Word and Word for Windows format). We have included these files because we know that teachers like to design laboratory methods according to their own teaching style. A free copy of the CHEMBIO program and the popular Vernier resource manual, CBL Made Easy, are also on the CD.
- GPS Methods Provided. Many schools are now using a GPS (Global Positioning System) and GIS data to help identify and track changes in local and regional watersheds. We include information for using this valuable tool.
- Extensive USGS Appendix. U.S. Geological Survey data are documented in our appendix, so your students will be able to compare their results with those found in other parts of the United States. In addition, we provide directions for locating and interpreting USGS data on the internet.
The CBL System and Vernier sensors have greatly improved the ease
of use and accuracy of water-quality measurements. Visit our web
site to examine our line of water-quality products or to download
sample tests from Water Quality with CBL.
Coming
Soon: Our Water
Quality with Computers (Macintosh or
IBM) lab manual will be available in late summer.
info@vernier.com