Adiabatic temperature gradient and potential temperature correction in pure and saline water: an experimental determination

Abstract The direct experimental determinations described in this paper yield values of the adiabatic temperature gradient, β, for pure and saline water. The measurements confirm Bryden's ( Deep-Sea Research , 20 , 401–408, 1973) formula over its range within its stated uncertainty. From data covering the range − 2 to 40 ° C, 0 to 40%, and 0 to 1380 bar a formula, which gives β with an estimated uncertainty of 5.5 × 10 −6 °C bar −1 , is computed. A formula for the potential temperature correction, which confirms Bryden's formula within his stated uncertainty and yields values of less estimated uncertainty over the full range of the data, is given.