The concentration and isotopic fractionation of oxygen dissolved in freshwater and seawater in equilibrium with the atmosphere1

Abstract

Previous work on the solubility of oxygen in freshwater has been extended to seawater. Measurements of the Henry coefficient in the ranges 0° < t < 45° C and 0< S < 50 fit the Setschenow relationship for the variation with salinity. The temperature dependence of the Setschenow coefficient for oxygen is found to be K = 0.0225034 ‒ 13.6083/ T + 2,565.68/ T 2 . The equation for the Henry coefficient as a function of temperature and salinity is used to calculate values for unit standard atmospheric concentrations (USAC) in freshwater and seawater in equilibrium with air at a total pressure of 1 atmosphere. It is estimated that the possible error in the new USAC values is no greater than ±0.1% and probably less. Tables and equations are presented for obtaining accurate USAC values in the ranges 0° < t < 40°C and 0 < S < 40. Simple procedures are given for calculating standard atmospheric concentrations at pressures different from 1 atm. The presence of sea salt has a negligible effect on the fractionation of the oxygen isotopes during solution.