Temperature compensation of electrical conductivity in glacial meltwaters

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Smart, C. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1992
• Subjects: Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000009540; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000009540

Abstract Temperature compensation built into many conductivity meters becomes inaccurate in low-temperature waters typical of glacial melt streams. Experiments using simulated glacial waters show a linear dependence of electrical conductivity on temperature from 0.3° to 25°C. The slope of the temperature–conductivity relation is linearly dependent on the conductivity of the solution, allowing a numerical or analytical temperature correction to be made. To minimize error introduced by temperature compensation, measurements of electrical conductivity in glacial streams should be corrected to a low standard temperature, and 0°C is suggested.