Metrological challenges for measurements of key climatological observables Part 2: oceanic salinity

Salinity is a key variable in the modelling and observation of ocean circulation and ocean-atmosphere fluxes of heat and water. In this paper, we examine the climatological relevance of ocean salinity, noting fundamental deficiencies in the definition of this key observable, and its lack of a secure...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMetrologia Vol. 53; no. 1; pp. R12 - R25
Main Authors Pawlowicz, R, Feistel, R, McDougall, T J, Ridout, P, Seitz, S, Wolf, H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bristol IOP Publishing 01.02.2016
Subjects
Climate
Climatology
density
Fluxes
Metrology
Ocean circulation
Ocean currents
Ocean models
Ocean-atmosphere interaction
Oceans
Salinity
Seawater
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Summary:Salinity is a key variable in the modelling and observation of ocean circulation and ocean-atmosphere fluxes of heat and water. In this paper, we examine the climatological relevance of ocean salinity, noting fundamental deficiencies in the definition of this key observable, and its lack of a secure foundation in the International System of Units, the SI. The metrological history of salinity is reviewed, problems with its current definitions and measurement practices are analysed, and options for future improvements are discussed in conjunction with the recent seawater standard TEOS-10.
Bibliography:MET-100470.R1
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0026-1394
1681-7575
DOI:10.1088/0026-1394/53/1/R12