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T (ºC), temperature: * S, salinity: * P (db, 10 kPa), pressure: * |
Θ (T, S, P) = |
| P0 (db, 10 kPa), pressure: * reference level (default P0 = 0.0 db) | |
This calculator derives Potential Temperature, Θ (T, S, P), from in-situ temperature, T, salinity,S and pressure, P.
Unless otherwise stated, potential temperature is usually defined as the temperature a water parcel has when it is brought to the surface; this is the default calculation. To calculate potential temperature relative to a level different from the surface, enter the appropriate reference pressure P0.
Note:10 kPa = 1 dbar is close to the pressure increase that corresponds to a depth increase of 1 m. If you enter a pressure value equal to the depth in metres it will give an approximate result.
Temperature uses IPTS-68, salinity uses PSS-78; see reference.
Calculation based on Fofonoff, P. and R. C. Millard Jr (1983) Algorithms for computation of fundamental properties of seawater.Unesco Technical Papers in Marine Sciences 44, 53 pp.