Contents of the ASCII BSP variability measurements files Version 1.0 01/22/97 Each of seven files contains Blind Sample Program (BSP) laboratory measurement variability data for the period 1985-95. See the accompanying Open-File Report for a complete discussion of the characteristics of the BSP data and statistical methods for using these data to assist in the interpretation of WQN stream water-quality data. The filename is VAR.ttt where ttt is a unique 3-character code identifying the constituent group listed in the file BSP_PARM.DAT, and given as follows: MJ1 for major dissolved ions, MJ2 for major dissolved ions, NUT for nutrients, MT1 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT2 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT3 for dissolved trace metal parameters, MT4 for dissolved trace metal parameters. The records are sorted by the earliest and latest dates of login of the BSP sample mixture, and the BSP sample mixture number. A missing value indicator consist of a negative sign and sufficient values of '9' to fill the specified field width--for example, -9999.99 would be used for the MPV value below with a format of F8.2. The first 30 characters of each data file contain the following information: Columns Format Contents 1-4 I4 Earliest sample laboratory login year 5-6 I2 Earliest sample laboratory login month 7-8 I2 Earliest sample laboratory login day 9 1X Blank 10-13 I4 Latest sample laboratory login year 14-15 I2 Latest sample laboratory login month 16-17 I2 Latest sample laboratory login day 18 1X Blank 19-30 A12 BSP unique mixture number The remaining portion of each record gives the constituent specific information consisting of the MPV ("most probable value") of the reference sample mixture, the mean and standard deviation of the NWQL's measurements of this reference sample mixture during the time period, the number of measurements of the reference sample mixture used to compute the mean and standard deviation, and the NWQL standard deviation expressed as a percent of the mean (RSD). Constituent group name: NUT Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DNH4, 00608, Nitrogen, ammonia, dissolved (mg/L as N) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DKJN, 00623, Nitrogen, ammonia + organic, dissolved (mg/L as N) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DNO3, 00631, Nitrogen, nitrate + nitrite, dissolved (mg/L as N) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DP, 00666, Phosphorus, dissolved (mg/L as P) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DORTHO, 00671, Phosphorus, orthophosphate, dissolved (mg/L as P) Constituent group name: MJ1 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), CA, 00915, Calcium, dissolved (mg/L as Ca) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), CL, 00940, Chloride, dissolved (mg/L as Cl) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DSROE, 70300, Dissolved solids (residue on evaporation *180C.) (mg/L) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), MG, 00925, Magnesium, dissolved (mg/L as Mg) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), K, 00935, Potassium, dissolved (mg/L as K) Constituent group name: MJ2 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), SIO2, 00955, Silica, dissolved (mg/L as SiO2) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), NA, 00930, Sodium, dissolved (mg/L as Na) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), SO4, 00945, Sulfate, dissolved (mg/L as SO4) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), FL, 00950, Fluoride, dissolved (mg/L as Fl) Constituent group name: MT1 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DAL, 01106, Aluminum, dissolved (ug/L as Al) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DAS, 01000, Arsenic, dissolved (ug/L as As) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DBA, 01005, Barium, dissolved (ug/L as Ba) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DBE, 01010, Beryllium, dissolved (ug/L as Be) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DB, 01020, Boron, dissolved (ug/L as B) Constituent group name: MT2 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DCD, 01025, Cadmium, dissolved (ug/L as Cd) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DCR, 01030, Chromium, dissolved (ug/L as Cr) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DCO, 01035, Cobalt, dissolved (ug/L as Co) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DCU, 01040, Copper, dissolved (ug/L as Cu) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DFE, 01046, Iron, dissolved (ug/L as Fe) Constituent group name: MT3 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DPB, 01049, Lead, dissolved (ug/L as Pb) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DLI, 01130, Lithium, dissolved (ug/L as Li) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DMN, 01056, Manganese, dissolved (ug/L as Mn) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DHG, 71890, Mercury, dissolved (ug/L as Hg) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DMO, 01060, Molybdenum, dissolved (ug/L as Mo) Constituent group name: MT4 Columns Format Contents 31-38 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 39-46 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 47-54 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 55-58 I4 Number of observations, DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 59-66 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DNI, 01065, Nickel, dissolved (ug/L as Ni) 67-74 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 75-82 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 83-90 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 91-94 I4 Number of observations, DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 95-102 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DSE, 01145, Selenium, dissolved (ug/L as Se) 103-110 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 111-118 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 119-126 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 127-130 I4 Number of observations, DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 131-138 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DAG, 01075, Silver, dissolved (ug/L as Ag) 139-146 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 147-154 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 155-162 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 163-166 I4 Number of observations, DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 167-174 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DSR, 01080, Strontium, dissolved (ug/L as Sr) 175-182 F8.2 BSP MPV (most probable value), DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 183-190 F8.2 NWQL Mean, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 191-198 F8.2 NWQL Standard Deviation, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 199-202 I4 Number of observations, DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) 203-210 F8.2 NWQL RSD (relative standard deviation), DZN, 01090, Zinc, dissolved (ug/L as Zn) Format descriptions: In an integer field n columns wide. F8.x a real (float) field 8 columns wide with x decimal places to the right of the decimal point. An a character field n columns wide. 1X a single blank column.