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Oxygen Saturation





MEDICAL SCIENCE

In Medicine , oxygen saturation (SaO2) measures the percentage of Hemoglobin binding sites in the bloodstream occupied by oxygen. At low partial pressures of oxygen, most hemoglobin is deoxygenated. At around 90% (the value varies according to the clinical context) oxygen saturation increases according to an S Curve and approaches 100% at partial oxygen pressures of >10 kPa. A Pulse Oximeter relies on the light absorption characteristics of saturated hemoglobin to give an indication of oxygen saturation.

An SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) value below 90% is termed Hypoxemia . This may be due to various medical conditions.


ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

In Aquatic environments, oxygen saturation is a relative measure of the amount of Oxygen (O2) dissolved in the water. '''Dissolved oxygen''' ('''DO''') is measured in standard solution units such as millimoles O2 per liter (mmol/L), milligrams O2
  • 20 °C, normal pressure, freshwater: 9.1 mg/L = 100% saturation


Solubility tables (based upon temperature) and corrections for different salinities and pressures can be found at the USGS web site . Tables such as these of DO in milliliters per liter (ml/L) are based upon equations that have been worked out and tested>B_3 = -0.001700, ''T'' = temperature in Kelvin s, and ''S'' = Salinity in g/kg. DO = dissolved oxygen in ml/L. Multiply DO by 1.4276 to obtain mg/L.

Reg Phytoplankton . Supersaturation can sometimes be harmful for organisms and cause '' Gas Bubble Disease ''.


REFERENCE

  • Weiss. 1970. ''Deep-Sea Res.'', 17:721-735