What condition does high turbidity indicate?

High turbidity indicates the presence of a significant amount of fine sediment or particulate matter in the water. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a liquid, which is caused by suspended particles that scatter and absorb light. When there is excessive fine sediment, it leads to higher turbidity levels. This can be the result of various factors, including erosion, runoff, or disturbances in the water body.

In contrast, a lack of organic contaminants would typically result in clearer water, and an increase in water temperature doesn't inherently correlate with turbidity levels. Similarly, low levels of dissolved oxygen are often a consequence of higher organic material and pollutants but are not directly indicated by turbidity itself. Therefore, the presence of excessive fine sediment is the primary reason for high turbidity readings in water bodies.