Speed of Sound in Sea Water as a Function of Temperature, Pressure, and Salinity

Tables for the speed of sound in sea water are presented. These tables have been prepared from an empirical formula which was derived to fit measured sound-speed data obtained over the temperature range −3°C to 30°C, the pressure range 1.033 kg/cm2 to 1000 kg/cm2, and the salinity range 33‰ to 37‰. The discrepancy of −3.0 m/sec found by Del Grosso at 1 atm., as compared to the tables of Kuwahara, is substantiated. In addition, the pressure coefficient of sound speed observed in the present work differs from that predicted by Kuwahara.