This chapter presents the definitions of the principal physical properties of the seawater, including pressure, temperature, salinity , density, density anomaly, specific heat, and thermal expansion. The typical global ocean profiles and distribution maps of surface temperature, salinity, and density anomaly are presented. Other oceanic properties, including the stability of oceanic water columns, use of temperature–salinity diagrams in identifying water masses, sea water freezing, as well as oceanic sound transmission and light are treated.
Sea water can be characterized by its temperature, salinity (the dissolved solids), and pressure. From these three quantities and the equation of the state of sea water, the ocean scientist or engineer can calculate other desired quantities, such as the density, sound velocity, heat capacity, or electrical conductivity. The oceanographic tables of yesteryear have been replaced by the microcomputer for the calculation of these derived quantities.
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