Data manipulation is crucial in understanding how all the sample values relate to one another. Much of today was spent in accessing data bases and graphing the data according to month, or year or other parameter that can be compared to other data that is set up with the same parameters. The rest of the day was spent reviewing protocols and procedures on determining the amounts different substances in the water. Data must not only be collected but also analyzed to be of full value.
Historical records are useful for comparison to the newest values.
The long term projects that have been set up in the world to monitor trends in the environment will help us determine what is actually happening to our world.