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Introduction

Salinity onboard is measured using a Fisher Model S66366 Refractometer. Higher concentration of salt in water results in more refraction of light through water. The amount of refraction of light through a sample on the refractometer can then be used to measure the salinity of the sample. The refractometer has scales for both specific gravity and ppt. The procedure used to measure salinity calibrates the refractometer with a seawater standard (IAPSO) to 35 ppt on the refractometer, although values are typically reported without units.

Calibration

  1. Rinse and clean the blue prism surface with ultrapure water onto it and then wiping dry.
  2. Add a drop of IAPSO standard seawater onto the blue prism surface. 50 uL from a pipette should work well.
  3. Close the clear prism lid and the water should spread over the prism surface.
  4. Look through the eyepiece of the refractometer towards a source of light. Sunlight from a window, or a ceiling light.
  5. You should see a clear boundary between blue on top and white on bottom.
  6. If this boundary is not at 35 (using the ppt scale on the right), then use a small screwdriver to adjust the calibration screw on top of the refractometer until the boundary between blue and white is at 35.
  7. Rinse and clean the prism surface and lid with ultrapure water and then wipe dry.

Sample Analysis

  1. Add a drop of sample onto the blue prism surface and close the prism lid.
  2. Look through the eyepiece towards a source of light.
  3. Read the number at the boundary between blue and white as the value for salinity.

Data Available in LIMS

Expanded SALINTY Report:

ANALYSISTABLENAMEABOUT TEXT
SALINITYSAMPLEExpExp: expedition number
SALINITYSAMPLESiteSite: site number
SALINITYSAMPLEHoleHole: hole number
SALINITYSAMPLECoreCore: core number
SALINITYSAMPLETypeType: type indicates the coring tool used to recover the core (typical types are F, H, R, X).
SALINITYSAMPLESectSect: section number
SALINITYSAMPLEA/WA/W: archive (A) or working (W) section half.
SALINITYSAMPLEtext_idText_ID: automatically generated database identifier for a sample, also carried on the printed labels. This identifier is guaranteed to be unique across all samples.
SALINITYSAMPLEsample_numberSample Number: automatically generated database identifier for a sample. This is the primary key of the SAMPLE table.
SALINITYSAMPLElabel_idLabel identifier: automatically generated, human readable name for a sample that is printed on labels. This name is not guaranteed unique across all samples.
SALINITYSAMPLEsample_nameSample name: short name that may be specified for a sample. You can use an advanced filter to narrow your search by this parameter.
SALINITYSAMPLEx_sample_stateSample state: Single-character identifier always set to "W" for samples; standards can vary.
SALINITYSAMPLEx_projectProject: similar in scope to the expedition number, the difference being that the project is the current cruise, whereas expedition could refer to material/results obtained on previous cruises
SALINITYSAMPLEx_capt_locCaptured location: "captured location," this field is usually null and is unnecessary because any sample captured on the JR has a sample_number ending in 1, and GCR ending in 2
SALINITYSAMPLElocationLocation: location that sample was taken; this field is usually null and is unnecessary because any sample captured on the JR has a sample_number ending in 1, and GCR ending in 2
SALINITYSAMPLEx_sampling_toolSampling tool: sampling tool used to take the sample (e.g., syringe, spatula)
SALINITYSAMPLEchanged_byChanged by: username of account used to make a change to a sample record
SALINITYSAMPLEchanged_onChanged on: date/time stamp for change made to a sample record
SALINITYSAMPLEsample_typeSample type: type of sample from a predefined list (e.g., HOLE, CORE, LIQ)
SALINITYSAMPLEx_offsetOffset (m): top offset of sample from top of parent sample, expressed in meters.
SALINITYSAMPLEx_offset_cmOffset (cm): top offset of sample from top of parent sample, expressed in centimeters. This is a calculated field (offset, converted to cm)
SALINITYSAMPLEx_bottom_offset_cmBottom offset (cm): bottom offset of sample from top of parent sample, expressed in centimeters. This is a calculated field (offset + length, converted to cm)
SALINITYSAMPLEx_diameterDiameter (cm): diameter of sample, usually applied only to CORE, SECT, SHLF, and WRND samples; however this field is null on both Exp. 390 and 393, so it is no longer populated by Sample Master
SALINITYSAMPLEx_orig_lenOriginal length (m): field for the original length of a sample; not always (or reliably) populated
SALINITYSAMPLEx_lengthLength (m): field for the length of a sample [as entered upon creation]
SALINITYSAMPLEx_length_cmLength (cm): field for the length of a sample. This is a calculated field (length, converted to cm).
SALINITYSAMPLEstatusStatus: single-character code for the current status of a sample (e.g., active, canceled)
SALINITYSAMPLEold_statusOld status: single-character code for the previous status of a sample; used by the LIME program to restore a canceled sample
SALINITYSAMPLEoriginal_sampleOriginal sample: field tying a sample below the CORE level to its parent HOLE sample
SALINITYSAMPLEparent_sampleParent sample: the sample from which this sample was taken (e.g., for PWDR samples, this might be a SHLF or possibly another PWDR)
SALINITYSAMPLEstandardStandard: T/F field to differentiate between samples (standard=F) and QAQC standards (standard=T)
SALINITYSAMPLElogin_byLogin by: username of account used to create the sample (can be the LIMS itself [e.g., SHLFs created when a SECT is created])
SALINITYSAMPLElogin_dateLogin date: creation date of the sample
SALINITYSAMPLElegacyLegacy flag: T/F indicator for when a sample is from a previous expedition and is locked/uneditable on this expedition
SALINITYTESTtest changed_onTEST changed on: date/time stamp for a change to a test record.
SALINITYTESTtest statusTEST status: single-character code for the current status of a test (e.g., active, in process, canceled)
SALINITYTESTtest old_statusTEST old status: single-character code for the previous status of a test; used by the LIME program to restore a canceled test
SALINITYTESTtest test_numberTEST test number: automatically generated database identifier for a test record. This is the primary key of the TEST table.
SALINITYTESTtest date_receivedTEST date received: date/time stamp for the creation of the test record.
SALINITYTESTtest instrumentTEST instrument [instrument group]: field that describes the instrument group (most often this applies to loggers with multiple sensors); often obscure (e.g., user_input)
SALINITYTESTtest analysisTEST analysis: analysis code associated with this test (foreign key to the ANALYSIS table)
SALINITYTESTtest x_projectTEST project: similar in scope to the expedition number, the difference being that the project is the current cruise, whereas expedition could refer to material/results obtained on previous cruises
SALINITYTESTtest sample_numberTEST sample number: the sample_number of the sample to which this test record is attached; a foreign key to the SAMPLE table
SALINITYCALCULATEDTop depth CSF-A (m)Top depth CSF-A (m): position of observation expressed relative to the top of the hole.
SALINITYCALCULATEDBottom depth CSF-A (m)Bottom depth CSF-A (m): position of observation expressed relative to the top of the hole.
SALINITYCALCULATEDTop depth CSF-B (m)Top depth [other] (m): position of observation expressed relative to the top of the hole. The location is presented in a scale selected by the science party or the report user.
SALINITYCALCULATEDBottom depth CSF-B (m)Bottom depth [other] (m): position of observation expressed relative to the top of the hole. The location is presented in a scale selected by the science party or the report user.
SALINITYRESULTinstrument_usedRESULT instrument used: indication of whether the manual/optical or digital salinometer was used
SALINITYRESULTsalinityRESULT salinity (unitless): salinity number of the interstitial water sample (roughly parts-per-thousand salinity, but in the unitless PSU scale)
SALINITYRESULTssup_asman_idRESULT spreadsheet uploader ASMAN_ID: serial number for the ASMAN link for the spreadsheet uploader file
SALINITYRESULTssup_filenameRESULT spreadsheet uploader filename: file name for the spreadsheet uploader file
SALINITYSAMPLEsample descriptionSAMPLE comment: contents of the SAMPLE.description field, usually shown on reports as "Sample comments"
SALINITYTESTtest test_commentTEST comment: contents of the TEST.comment field, usually shown on reports as "Test comments"
SALINITYRESULTresult commentsRESULT comment: contents of a result parameter with name = "comment," usually shown on reports as "Result comments"

Archived Versions

Salinity User Guide: 29th September 2022

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