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6448849 
Journal Article 
Estimation of the concentration of yellow substance in natural waters by beam attenuation coefficient spectra 
Maeekivi, SA 
1996 
Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Ecology
ISSN: 0868-5894 
3-4 
108-123 
Two ways for describing the influence of the yellow substance on the properties of the water environment were considered: (1) by using spectral attenuation coefficients of yellow substance measured from the samples of filtered water; and (2) by using effective concentrations of yellow substance in water estimated from optical measurements. Both ways have some positive features, but also certain shortcomings. The yellow substance concentration values determined using different numerical parameters (obtained by different investigations) in the yellow substance absorption coefficient formula are compared and analysed. The values of the slope parameter in this formula are calculated using our spectrophotometrical measurements in the Baltic Sea and in some Estonian lakes. The differences between the absorption coefficients of the yellow substance and the corresponding beam (and also diffuse) attenuation coefficients of the filtered water are discussed and estimated. In addition to the classical method, which uses for the determination of the yellow substance concentration the beam attenuation coefficient spectra of the filtered water, an alternative method based on the measurements of the beam attenuation coefficient spectra of unfiltered water is described. The reliability of the yellow substance concentration values (obtained by both methods) depends mainly on the reliability of the values of specific absorption coefficients of the yellow substance. For improving the accuracy of these results new, more authentic data on the optical properties of the yellow substance for different types of water bodies are highly necessary. 
; Optical analysis; Lakes; Filtration; Water sampling; dissolved organic matter; Optical properties; Organic matter; Absorption; Spectrophotometry; Aquatic environment; Natural waters/