Water quality "parameter" or water quality "variable"? Are there differences among terms parameter, variable, attribute and characteristic or constituent in water quality?
As to define the water quality, usually we used the term chemical , physical and biological constituents. These represent characteristics. Thus used the term characteristics of chemical constituents. However Chemical parameters are used in broad term. Furthermore, variable and attribute terms are not appropriate.
For the assessment of water quality the term "parameter" we used, e.g. drinking water assessment. If you calculate water quality in a model, you use "variables". And if you use algorithms for water quality you use "indicators" or "indices", e.g. Fauna-Index as a "core metric" of the macrozoobenthos as a "indicator" of the water quality of a river/stream.
"Water quality parameters" is the correct term. There is a clear difference between variables and parameters. A variable represents a state which may changes during experimentation. A parameter is commonly used to describe objects statically.
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