The Errors Involved in Inferring Salinity from Sound Velocity

Abstract

Four empirical equations relating sound velocity, salinity, temperature and pressure are examined to determine the errors in computing salinity from measurements of temperature, pressure and sound velocity. The measurement errors in these variables lead to rms salinity errors of 0.2? for a moored instrument. The magnitude of the salinity error appears independent of the equation used. Salinities using Lovett's and Del Grosso's equations agree well and differ from those computed using either of Wilson's equations.