Salinity Sensor Enhances Water Quality Testing

We are pleased to announce the Salinity Sensor as the latest in our outstanding line of water-quality sensors. This sensor easily and accurately measures the total-dissolved salt content in water. Salinity is an important measurement in seawater or in estuaries where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salty ocean water. The salinity level in seawater is fairly constant, at about 35 ppt (35,000 mg/L), while brackish estuaries may have salinity levels between 1 and 10 ppt.

Salinity is of interest in bodies of water where seawater mixes with freshwater, since aquatic organisms have varying abilities to survive and thrive at different salinity levels. Saltwater organisms survive in salinity levels up to 40 ppt, yet many freshwater organisms cannot live in salinity levels above 1 ppt.

The new Vernier Salinity Sensor has a range of 0 to 50 ppt. This means it can be used to measure water with a wide variety of salinities, from freshwater to ocean water, and even hyper-saline environments.

The Salinity Sensor measures the ability of a solution to conduct an electric current between two platinum electrodes. In solution, the current flows by ion transport; therefore, an increasing concentration of ions in the solution will result in higher salinity values. The new Salinity Sensor is an “auto-ID” sensor, which means that it is automatically identified by the software and a calibration is automatically loaded. The calibration that comes stored on the sensor is excellent, due to our new process of individual factory calibrations.

Salinity Sensor | order code SAL-BTA | $88

More for Measuring Water Quality

Water-Quality Lab Manuals
Our water-quality lab manuals have been extremely popular since they were first published five years ago. Water Quality with Computers and Water Quality with Calculators versions are available. A Palm OS® handheld version can also be obtained on CD by purchasing either Science with Handhelds or either of the water-quality books previously mentioned.

Map Your Data Using GIS
Environmental data, such as water-quality measurements, come Environmental data, such as water-quality measurements, come to life when viewed in the context of their geography using GIS (geographic information systems) software. Logger Pro facilitates the data transfer using its “Export in GIS format” feature. Whether you use a laptop, TI graphing calculator, or Palm handheld, Logger Pro can format your field data for importing into GIS software.

GLOBE Certification
Several of our water-quality sensors (Stainless Steel Temperature Probe, Conductivity Probe, pH Sensor, Dissolved Oxygen Probe) have been certified for use with the GLOBE program. This exceptional program for student-collected data is worth checking out at www.globe.gov.

Individual Factory Calibrations
Many Vernier sensors, including the new Salinity Sensor, are now individually calibrated before they are shipped. This custom calibration is then saved on the sensor and loaded automatically by the software. You can still perform your own calibrations if you wish, but this new feature makes it unnecessary in many cases.

User-Saved Calibrations
We know that many people like to calibrate their sensors themselves for the utmost confidence in their measurements. Now, with Logger Pro 3, when you perform your own calibration, you can choose to save it directly on your auto-ID sensor. Your new calibration is automatically loaded by the software, even if you use the sensor with another computer, calculator, or Palm OS® handheld.

Vernier Water Quality Central
Visit the Water Quality Central for the latest Vernier developments!