TOTAL INORGANIC NITROGEN (TIN)

A measure of the total Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia concentrations of a body of water, typically measured in milligrams per liter (mg/l) or micrograms per liter (g/l). From the point of view of a planktonic algae, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia are all very suitable sources of nitrogen for growth. Also see Carlson's Trophic State Index (TSI).