How To Convert Specific Conductivity To Salinity

The word "specific," when used in physics and chemistry, has a (specific) meaning. It refers to a quantity divided by an extensive (dimensional) measure to make it a measure of a substance's properties instead of peculiar to a particular object. For example, specific conductivity (or just conductivity, which by definition already is a specific measure) measures a substance's ability to conduct electricity. Scientists measure conductivity in seawater to determine salinity. While the conversion from the former to the latter uses a long equation of several terms, you can use an online calculator to make the conversion with just three variables.

Step 1

Convert your conductivity measurement's unit from siemens per meter (S/m) to milli-siemens per centimeter (mS/cm). In other words, multiply by 10.

Step 2

Raise the conductivity (in mS/cm) to the power 1.0878.

Step 3

Multiply the result by 0.4665. This gives you salinity in grams (of salt) per liter (of solution).