EMPIRICAL-EQUATION FOR THE INDEX OF REFRACTION OF SEAWATER

We have determined an empirical equation for the index of refraction o f water as a function of temperature, salinity, and wavelength at atmo spheric pressure. The experimental data selected by Austin and Halikas [''The index of refraction of seawater,'' SIO Ref 76-1 (Scripps Insti tution of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif., 1976)] were fitted to power series in the variables. A ten-parameter empirical equation that repro duces the original data to within its experimental errors was obtained .