Salinity

• Salinity is the total amount of dissolved salts in

water; grams of salts per kilogram of water
(g/kg) or as parts per thousand (ppt).

• Seawater has 11 major constituents that make

up more than 99.99% of all dissolved materials.

• Although salinity may vary, the major

constituents are well mixed and present in the
same relative proportions.
Major Constituents of Seawater
(% by weight)
Chloride (Cl-) 55.07%
Sodium (Na+) 30.62%
Sulfate (SO42-) 7.72%
Magnesium (Mg 2+) 3.68%
Calcium (Ca 2+) 1.17%
Potassium (K+) 1.10%
Bicarbonate (HCO3 -) 0.40%
Bromide (Br -) 0.19%
Strontium (Sr 2+) 0.02%
Boron (B 3+) 0.01%
Fluoride (F-) 0.01%
 Why Study Salinity…

• Determines the distribution of plants and

animals that live in the ocean.

• Affects other properties of seawater, such as

its density and the amount of dissolved oxygen.
 Significant Values

• The average salinity of the world’s oceans is 35

ppt.

• Freshwater has a salinity of <1 ppt.

• Inshore waters with salinity values between 1 -

25 ppt are called brackish.

• Waters with salinity greater than 40 ppt are

called hypersaline.
 Salinity Hydrometer Method

• Addition of salts to pure water causes an

increase in density. Salinity can be calculated
by measuring the specific gravity of a water
sample using a hydrometer, correcting for the
effect of temperature and converting the
readings to salinity by using conversion tables.

Specific Gravity = density of sample

Density of pure water
 Hydrometer Reading

• Be sure hydrometer is clean

• Fill 500 mL graduated cylinder with sample water
• Determine the temperature of your sample
• Place the hydrometer in cylinder and let settle. It should not
touch the cylinder walls, and should be read from the
bottom of the meniscus.
• Read the specific gravity from the hydrometer scale
• Using the specific gravity and temperature values,
determine salinity from salinity table in Teacher’s Guide
• Read three times. The values should be within 2 ppt of the
average. Discard outliers.
Calibration - Hydrometer Method

• 35 ppt standard:
– Measure out 17.5 g NaCl (table salt) and pour into a 500-mL
graduated cylinder.
– Fill the cylinder to the line with distilled water and
carefully swirl the solution to mix the standard, until all salt
crystals have dissolved.
– Pour the solution into a 1-quart plastic bottle and label.
• Prepare a blank using 500 ml of distilled water.
• Follow the directions for a water sample.
• Check technique every six months.
 Salinity titration method
• The amount of halogens (chloride, bromide, iodine, and
fluoride) in the water sample (chlorinity) is determined
using a silver nitrate titration method. The salinity of the
sample can then be calculated using the following
formula:
Salinity (ppt) = 1.80655 x Chlorinity (ppt)
• Use a test kit that meet specifications described in the
Tool Kit in the GLOBE Teacher’s Guide
• Follow the instructions in the test kit to take three
measurements. Values should be within the precision
stated in the test kit specifications. Discard outliers and
retake measurements.
Calibration - Titration Method

• Concentration of standard reflect composition of

seawater.
• 38.6 ppt sea water titration standard:
– Measure out 17.5 g NaCl (table salt) and pour this into a
500-mL graduated cylinder.
– Fill the cylinder to the line with distilled water and
carefully swirl the solution to mix the standard, until all salt
crystals have dissolved.
– Pour the solution into a 1-quart plastic bottle and label.
• Follow directions for a water sample.
• Calibrate every six months to check technique.