Salinitetens

Salinitetens refers to the salinity of a solution, a measure of how much dissolved salts it contains. In natural waters, salinity is most often discussed for seawater and is typically expressed in practical salinity units (PSU) or in parts per thousand (ppt, g/kg). The major dissolved ions in seawater are sodium and chloride, along with others such as sulfate, magnesium, and calcium.

Salinity is measured using conductivity-based methods, refractometry, or chemical analyses. The Practical Salinity Scale assigns a dimensionless value to conductivity relative to a standard reference, with seawater commonly around 35 PSU. Freshwater generally has salinity well below 0.5 ppt, brackish water ranges roughly from 0.5 to 30 ppt, and hypersaline bodies can exceed 40 ppt.

Salinity influences water density, buoyancy, and ocean stratification, and it plays a key role in thermohaline circulation and marine life. Organisms regulate their internal osmolality to cope with changing salinity, and many ecosystems are adapted to specific salinity ranges. Local salinity is shaped by evaporation, precipitation, river inflows, ice formation and melting, as well as human activities such as desalination, effluent discharges, and freshwater management.

In scientific and practical contexts, understanding salinity informs oceanography, hydrology, climate research, desalination planning, and aquaculture. The study of salinitetens helps explain patterns in marine chemistry, ecosystem health, and the global movement of heat and matter through the oceans.