Turbidity

**Turbidity**

The Definition of turbidity is the amount of sunlight that penetrates a body of water and depends on the clarity.

There Are Several Factors That Affect Turbidity Including increased stream erosion, high water volume, heavy rains or large amounts of melted snow, and temperature.

Temperature is affected by Turbidity. Streams and rivers are very turbid in the spring.

Heavy Rain or Large Amount of Snow Melting can cause a sudden increase in water volume and sediment, which increases the stream's Turbidity.

In the Spring, Melting snow carry large volume of silt & organic matter into streams and rivers. Warm Tempature also promotes the rapid growth of Plankton, which remains suspended in the water.

When it rains the turbidity can increase, especially when there is flooding and loose soil and other objects get picked up inside the strong current thereby increasing he amount of turbidity.

The turbidity can affect the type of organisms that live in the stream. Some need to live on plants that need a good amount of sunlight and when there is no sun to reach it the plant dies and so will the animal afterwards.

Humans have impacted the amount of turbidity by dumping, pouring in waste, and polluting the streams.