Definition: Salinity is a measurement of the total amount of dissolved salts in a sample of seawater. It is defined as the ratio of the conductivity of the seawater sample to the conductivity of a solution of 32.4356 grams (1.15 ounces) of potassium chloride per kilogram of pure water at 15 degrees C (59 degrees F) and 1 atmosphere. A salinity of 35 parts per thousand is considered "full-strength" seawater.
salinity
By Shirlie Sharpe, About.com
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