Temperature is simply a measurement of how hot or cold something is. However, temperature holds a key element to what the quality of the river will be.

    Microscopic organisms are present in all waterways. There are two types: aerobic and anaerobic. Aerobic microorganisms require oxygen to live and anaerobic do not. Increases in temperature cause increases in micro-organisms. So, if there is a large amount of micro-organisms, they will start to die and decay. When they decay, it uses up large amounts of oxygen in the water. This removes oxygen from the river to be used by the aquatic life.

Procedures:

· A person will wade out to the middle of the river or as close as possible and hold a standard thermometer in the water until the temperature stops rising/falling and then record the temperature.

· The first step is repeated at another part of the river usually farther upstream.

· Finally the temperatures will be averaged to calculate the final temperature values.