Eh AS AN OPERATIONAL, PARAMETER IN ESTUARINE STUDIES

Quantitative interpretation of Eh measurements in natural aqueous systems is difficult because of problems associated with the technique of measurement, the performance of the inert metal electrode, and the thermodynamic behavior of the environment. However, the parameter is useful as a semiquantitative indicator of the degree of stagnation of a particular environment. A compound probe is described that reduces the technical problems and enables pH, Eh, and pS2− measurements to be made simultaneously on a single sample. With this probe, Eh can be used as an operational parameter to map the distribution of estuarine sediments.