Palm Beach Atlantic University 1

Introductory Earth Science Laboratory

ESC 1041-0XL
Laboratory #7: Chemical and physical characteristics of seawater
PURPOSE:
 Learn how to determine temperature, salinity, and density of seawater.
 Learn about temperature.
 Learn about salinity.
 Learn about density.

INTRODUCTION: Seawater is often characterized based on its physical and chemical properties.
The most common measurements of seawater are temperature, salinity, and density.

Differences in temperature and salinity can influence where organisms live, but they can also
have a much larger impact on the ocean as a whole. High salinity water is dense, and it sinks.
Low temperature water is dense, and it also sinks. If these two water bodies are not well
mixed, then stratification occurs. Density stratification can create essentially two bodies of
water and keep material from moving between the two.

DETERMINING TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, AND DENSITY:

Dr. Sedlacek will demonstrate how to measure temperature, salinity, and density of seawater.
We will use a thermometer to measure temperature, a refractometer to measure salinity, and
a hydrometer to measure density. Grab a bucket and follow Dr. Sedlacek to the intracoastal.
Collect a bucket of water by lowering the bucket over the side of the seawall. Bring the bucket
up and measure temperature and salinity. Record your findings below. Pour some water into a
cylinder and measure the density. Record your findings below.

At island
Temperature:

Salinity:

Density

Once done, return with Dr. Sedlacek to the lab. Put buckets with supplies back where you
found them, but keep your graduated cylinder.

TEMPERATURE:

At the front are two graduated cylinders of 30 ppt water. The water in one cylinder is at room
temperature, and the water in the other cylinder is chilled by ice. Measure the temperature and
density of the water in each cylinder.
 Palm Beach Atlantic University 2

Graduated cylinder Temperature (˚C) Density

#1

#2

Explain below the relationship between temperature and density.

SALINITY:

At the front are two graduated cylinders with different salinity waters. Measure the salinity
and density of the water in each cylinder.

Graduated cylinder Salinity Density

#1

#2

Explain below the relationship between salinity and density.

_____________________________________________________________________________

That is all for the day. Make sure that you have Dr. Sedlacek check your work before leaving
and then sign out once you are cleared. Clean your area before you leave!

We will have a campus field trip next week (weather permitting) so bring walking shoes!

What you need to know for the quiz next week:

 What instruments you used to take what measurements.

 Be able to read the instruments.
 Be able to explain some of the concepts described in the temperature, salinity, and
density experiments and be able to make predictions based on your results.