Converting g/81.03 cm^2 to g/m^2

[jklidies]

I'm completing a study where I removed cores from soil. It was suggested to me by my adviser that I convert the cores to g/m^2. My cores have a diameter of 10.16 cm (r=5.08 cm) which equals an area of 81.03 cm^2. I am looking for a multiplier to make the conversions easy, so I did the following:

1m^2=10,000cm^2

10,000cm^2/81.03cm^2 = 123.41

If I'm thinking about this correctly, I could multiply each measurement by 123.41 and that would convert all g/81.03cm^2 to g/m^2. I guess the reason I'm second guessing myself is the g. It's making me unsure if I'm looking at this correctly.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[Ishuda]

I'm completing a study where I removed cores from soil. It was suggested to me by my adviser that I convert the cores to g/m^2. My cores have a diameter of 10.16 cm (r=5.08 cm) which equals an area of 81.03 cm^2. I am looking for a multiplier to make the conversions easy, so I did the following:

1m^2=10,000cm^2

10,000cm^2/81.03cm^2 = 123.41

If I'm thinking about this correctly, I could multiply each measurement by 123.41 and that would convert all g/81.03cm^2 to g/m^2. I guess the reason I'm second guessing myself is the g. It's making me unsure if I'm looking at this correctly.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

The conversion looks good to me but I do have a question. Just what is this g/m² (or g/cm²) supposed to represent? I know it is used to measure thickness of paper for example where the density is assumed constant but was just wondering what it represented here.

 

[jklidies]

Reply to Ishuda

The conversion looks good to me but I do have a question. Just what is this g/m² (or g/cm²) supposed to represent? I know it is used to measure thickness of paper for example where the density is assumed constant but was just wondering what it represented here.

I removed cores of seagrass. The g/cm squared is my biomass measurement. Basically, I'm telling how many grams of seagrass were removed from the 81.03 cm squared core. Hence, my measurement becomes Biomass amount followed by g/81.03 cm squared.

 

[Ishuda]

I removed cores of seagrass. The g/cm squared is my biomass measurement. Basically, I'm telling how many grams of seagrass were removed from the 81.03 cm squared core. Hence, my measurement becomes Biomass amount followed by g/81.03 cm squared.

So the length of the core [depth of the sample] is a given standard then?

 

[jklidies]

So the length of the core [depth of the sample] is a given standard then?

Well, we aren't looking at it on a volumetric scale. The idea is to get the full plant, so we go down however far we need to. Basically, we'll remove cores much deeper than the root system is, that way we get the whole plant. The point of the study though is not to look at volume of seagrass necessarily, but to look at cover. How much is in a given area. That's why we don't worry with depth.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes, there are 100 cm in a meter so (100)^2= 10000 square cm in a square meter. Then \(\displaystyle \frac{g}{81.03 cm^2}= \frac{1}{81.03}\frac{g}{cm^2}= \frac{1}{81.03}\frac{g}{cm^2}\frac{10000 cm^2}{m^2}= \frac{10000}{81.03}\frac{g}{m^2}= 123.4 \frac{g}{m^2}\)

 

[Ishuda]

Well, we aren't looking at it on a volumetric scale. The idea is to get the full plant, so we go down however far we need to. Basically, we'll remove cores much deeper than the root system is, that way we get the whole plant. The point of the study though is not to look at volume of seagrass necessarily, but to look at cover. How much is in a given area. That's why we don't worry with depth.

Thanks for the explanation.