Calcium and Magnesium in Sea Water and the Ratio of Calcium to Chlorinity as a Tracer of Water-masses

Abstract

Calcium and magnesium in sea water have been determined. In the western North Pacific, the average concentrations are 0.4049g/kg for calcium and 1.2684g/kg for magnesium in the water of 19.00‰ chlorinity and their ratios to chlorinity are 0.02131 for calcium and 0.06676 for magnesium. The ratio of calcium to chlorinity not only increases with depth but also varies among the surface water-masses. Thus, the ratio can be used as a water-mass tracer. The magnesium-chlorinity ratio shows no such a tendency.