Sea salt concentrations

[northern_diver]

He folks,

Trying to find out accurate measurments on sea salt concentrations (salinity) for UK sea's. No entirely sure which organisation to go for, but i can only assume it is known, given all the tests we do in this day and age.

Maybe UK Hydrographics Office...i know they do charts but maybe this as well?

What would be the UK version of NOAA?...if we dont use them for this kind of service.

Cheers folks.

John

[Cathy B]

Sea water is usually between 34-35 ppt, though the UK varies a bit from what I remember.

For exact measurements, try the CEFAS website: http://www.cefas.co.uk/default.aspx

I know they've done studies such as http://www.cefas.co.uk/data/sea-temperature-and-salinity-trends.aspx, though that's based around the coastline!

Have a look around there anyway - not really sure HOW accurate you want the results, lol!

~ Cathy

[Nick Pope]

Hi John,
Cathy is quite correct that offshore salinity around the UK is approximately 35 ppt (parts per thousand in mass units: that is g/kg).
However, addition of fresh water such as in estuaries and river plumes will reduce this concentration. Then, the nature of the mixing process comes into play i.e. is it well mixed, or is the (less dense) fresh water 'floating on top of the more saline water.
The effect can be that after heavy rain, even coastal waters can experience reduced salinity for a time.
So, the answer to your question is probably 'it depends'.
Without going into all the gory details, there have been extensive discussions in the past about the precise definition of salinity - particularly regarding the minor constituents of seawater.

British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC) in Liverpool are probably the best to ask for more detail.
Depends also what level of spatial resolution/averaging you require.

Regards
Nick

[northern_diver]

Average results will do. Be very nice to have a comparison between the average salinity value's around the UK with highest and lowest.

In terms of environmental flux, thats fine, that will be accounted for.

While the salinity will change, due to evaporation/rain fall/run off from freshwater land etc, my prior research leads me to think the variation is limited in long terms effect as well movement from norm generally, as the sea's re-balance?

John

[Edward]

Hi John,

A book you might find useful here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0750637153/ref=sib_rdr_dp) part of the OU's Oceanography course.

Regards

Edward

[northern_diver]

cheers adward, looks handy, will order it via the library

John