If the salinity of ocean water at the entrance to an estuary is 35 and 63 percent of the volume of water in the estuary is ocean water, what is the average salinity of the estuary?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let V be the total volume of water in the estuary.

Then 0.63V is ocean water and has a salinity of 35.

The rest of the water is freshwater and has a salinity of 0.

So the total salinity of the estuary is:

(0.63V)(35) + (0.37V)(0) = 22.05V

And the average salinity is:

22.05V / V = 22%

If the Salinity of Ocean Water at the Entrance to an Estuary