What term describes the concentration of dissolved salts in water?

Salinity is the term that specifically refers to the concentration of dissolved salts in water, primarily in oceans and other bodies of saline water. It is usually expressed in parts per thousand (ppt) or as a percentage. This measurement is crucial in understanding the chemical and physical properties of water, as well as its effects on marine life and ecosystems.

High salinity levels can impact the density of water, which in turn affects ocean circulation patterns, temperature stratification, and the habitat conditions for aquatic organisms. Monitoring salinity is essential for various fields, including oceanography, environmental science, and fisheries management, as it plays a significant role in aquatic chemistry and biology.

Other terms listed do not relate to the concentration of dissolved salts: viscosity pertains to the thickness or resistance to flow of a liquid; purity refers to the absence of impurities in a substance; and turbidity measures the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles, typically from sediments or pollution. Each of these concepts has its own importance in environmental science but does not describe salinity.