Paleo-drought: Measurements and analysis

This chapter aids understanding of the paleo perspective and the natural variability in drought by looking into the past to forecast the future. First, the interaction between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the ecosystem and climate is discussed. Detailed information about the prevalent POPs in the environment is provided. Existing international standards and the opportunities provided by modern equipment are discussed along with a discussion on the correct approach to a problem and the method of analysis and choice of suitable device. Furthermore, step-by-step information for measuring POPs is provided. Aiming to order the provided information, three subsectionsare used, where polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) measurements in water highlighted in subsection are devoted to pesticides and measurements of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in water (extraction, fractionation, and measurements). Due to their persistent presence, POPs have significant detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. This chapter provides in-depth knowledge on understanding and measuring the effect of POPs in the ecosystem and acting accordingly.