Description
Calculate supplied sediment-trap retrieval-minus-deployment calendar days.
Aquatic measurements depend on depth datums, effective sampling area, layer weights and concentration definitions. Secchi pair averages differ from a full optical model, and particulate-by-difference values depend on comparable total/dissolved measurements. A nominal rectangular sampling volume does not establish actual filtered effort or detection.
Calculate supplied sediment-trap retrieval-minus-deployment calendar days.
When to use this tool
Use Sediment Trap Exposure Day Count when you already have deploymentDate, retrievalDate and need to calculate supplied sediment-trap retrieval-minus-deployment calendar days.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter deploymentDate, retrievalDate. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read signedCalendarDays. Use the output convention below.
Parse real UTC dates; return elapsed days with signs preserved.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| deploymentDate | Deployment Date | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. Real proleptic Gregorian YYYY-MM-DD; four-digit years 0000-9999 accepted. |
| retrievalDate | Retrieval Date | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. Real proleptic Gregorian YYYY-MM-DD; four-digit years 0000-9999 accepted. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| signedCalendarDays | Signed Calendar Days | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"deploymentDate": "2026-10-28",
"retrievalDate": "2026-11-01"
},
"output": {
"signedCalendarDays": 4
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Reversed dates give negative days. Calendar dates omit within-day exposure, trap downtime, hydrodynamics and actual sampling conditions.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Review original field and laboratory records with the complete survey or process model. Include calibration, temporal coverage, sampling efficiency and uncertainty when local rates, depth shifts or labels cannot establish the aquatic quantity of interest.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Sediment Trap Dry Mass Flux
Calculate nominal dry-mass trap flux per area and day.
- Secchi Pair Midpoint
Average supplied Secchi disappearance and reappearance depths.