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Salinometers
Scientists measure the salinity of the ocean because it gives a lot of information about the motion and the origin of water masses. Salinity is a measure of conductivity. The instruments that measure salinity really measure the number of electrons that are carried by the sea salt ions. The vertical salinity structure of the ocean is recorded with a conductivity sensor mounted on a CTD. These sensors are very exact: they have a small deviation from the real value. Scientists like to reduce the measured error to a minimum; oceanographers use a salinometer to measure the exact salinity of a water sample and to be able to correct the CTD salinity.
The salinometer is a box with a water bath that keeps samples at a constant temperature. The salinometer measures the salinity of the water sample against the salinity of an industrially manufactured water sample (Copenhagen standard water) with a standard salinity of 34.999. This is an elaborate way to measure salinity with a very small error to effectively correct for deviations in the conductivity sensor of the CTD.
Prince William Sound has two NDBC Buoys that measure salinity at a depth of two meters. Buoy 46060 and Buoy 46081.
ARGO floats (drifting buoys) measure salinity in the Gulf of Alaska and in the Pacific Ocean.
The Alaska Ocean Observing System is building a network of observation platforms and forecast models. The goal of this network is to provide information products and tools to improve our understanding of Alaska’s ocean ecosystem and allow us to make better decisions about our use of the marine environment.
AOOS is affiliated with the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the
University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educational institution.
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