Description
Return linear-profile layer mean concentration and areal inventory.
Aquatic concentration and exchange calculations require a defined water-volume basis and compatible time intervals. An areal inventory differs from total mass, and linear endmember fractions may lie outside physical mixture bounds. Simple volume bookkeeping does not establish real mixing, residence time or chemical transformation.
Return linear-profile layer mean concentration and areal inventory.
When to use this tool
Use Water Column Integrated One Layer when checking the stated concentration, inventory, mixture or exchange basis.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter topConcentration, bottomConcentration, thickness. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read meanConcentration, arealInventory. Use the output convention below.
Return linear-profile layer mean concentration and areal inventory. Require nonnegative endpoint concentrations/thickness; mean = (top+bottom)/2, arealInventory = mean*thickness.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| topConcentration | Top Concentration | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| bottomConcentration | Bottom Concentration | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| thickness | Thickness | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| meanConcentration | Mean Concentration | Required. Finite number. |
| arealInventory | Average concentration*thickness: amount per horizontal area, not whole-lake mass. | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"topConcentration": 2,
"bottomConcentration": 6,
"thickness": 5
},
"output": {
"meanConcentration": 4,
"arealInventory": 20
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Concentration per volume times depth gives amount per area; no horizontal area, actual profile integration or chemical validity is inferred.
- 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.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use calibrated chemical measurements and a suitable complete mass-balance or transport model for actual water quality, exchange and ecological inference.
References
Similar or alternative tools
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