(beta) Proper water properties calculator: Depth

Warning!
If you calculate water depth assuming constant water density and constant gravity acceleration, you do it in a wrong way.
Take a look at this simple water depth calculator to make you estimations more precise and accurate!

0. Brief description. Very basic theory.

Calculation of depth by a given hydrostatic pressure comes from a simple equation:

P = ρ · g · h

Where P is pressure, generated by the water column with height h and density ρ. The depth h can be estimated as follows:

h = (P - P0) / (ρ · g)

Where P0 - is the atmospheric pressure above the water surface.
But neither ρ nor g is constants. As well as the atmospheric pressure P0 - which in some cases can vary hourly.

Gravity constant g in the simple case is a function of geographic latitude. Since the Earth rotates around an axis going through north and south poles, the gravity force is lower on equator due to centrifugal forces and higher on poles.

To estimate the adequate value of gravity acceleration we can use the WGS84 gravity formula [1][2].
In real-world applications water density ρ is a function of water temperature t, salinity s and pressure P. Its value can be estimated according to the UNESCO equation[3].


1. Depth calculation: an easy way

In this simplified calculation of water properties, we consider:
- homogenous temperature and salinity in the whole water body;
- water as non-compressible fluid (ok, almost).

Table 1. Input values
Parameter Notation Value Range Units
Water temperature t -4 .. 40 °C
Atmosperic pressure P0 870 .. 1090 mBar
Hydrostatic pressure P 103 .. 106 mBar
Geographic latitude φ -90 .. 90 °
Water salinity s 0 .. 42 PSU


Table 2. Output values
Parameter Notation Value Units Description
Water density ρ

1033.755

 kg/m3 For the point with given P and t
Gravity acceleration g

9.8089

 m/s2 For the specified φ
Depth hswg

986.112

 m For ρ=1023.6[4] kg/m3, g=9.80665[5] m/s2
Depth hsw

985.885

 m For ρ=1023.6[4] kg/m3, g=g(φ)
Depth hfwg

1011.386

 m For ρ=998.02[6] kg/m3, g=9.80665[5] m/s2
Depth hfw

1011.154

 m For ρ=998.02[6] kg/m3, g=g(φ)
Depth hρP0

980.384

 m ρ=ρ(t,P0,s), g=g(φ)
Depth hρP

976.199

 m ρ=ρ(t,P,s), g=g(φ)
Depth hρPm

978.277

 m ρ=ρm=ρ(t,(P+P0)/2,s), g=g(φ)

It this calculation we assume that hρPm is the most precise value. Since the density of water ρ depends on pressure P almost linearly, we try to take into account the compressibility of water by calculating water density for the midpoint ρm=ρ(t,(P+P0)/2,s).


2. Depth calculation: harder, but not a proper way

In this simplified calculation of water properties, we consider:
- homogenous temperature and salinity in the whole water body;
- water as compressible fluid.

To take into account the change of water density with the pressure we divide the pressure of the whole water column by Np parts, every lower part will have a higher density (and smaller height) than higher part due to compression of water. It means that to estimate the proper value of depth we should calculate the following sum:

h = (ΔP / g) · ∑ [1 / ρ(t, P0 + ΔPi), s]

Estimating the water density for all parts of the water column.

We use all parameters from the Table. 1 and adding only one extra parameter: number Np of pressure intervals:

Table 3. Input values
Parameter Notation Value Range Units
Number of pressure intervals Np 2 .. 99999


Table 4. Output values
Parameter Notation Value Units Description
Gravity acceleration g

9.8089

 m/s2 For the specified φ
Depth hρP0

980.384

 m ρ=ρ(t,P0,s), g=g(φ)
Depth hρP

976.199

 m ρ=ρ(t,P,s), g=g(φ)
Depth hρPm

978.277

 m ρ=ρm=ρ(t,(P+P0)/2,s), g=g(φ)
Depth hρ

979.260

 m h = (ΔP / g) · ∑ [1 / ρ(t, P0 + ΔPi), s], i=1..Np, g=g(φ)

It this calculation we assume that hρ is the most precise value.


3. Depth calculation: proper way

In this calculation of water properties, we consider:
- temperature and salinity vary with depth according to a given profile;
- water as compressible fluid.

To perform this calculation we take all the parameters from tables 1. and 3. Also, we need a measured temperature and salinity profile. TS-Profile is the number of measurements of temperature and salinity made in different depths.

Table 5. Input values
Parameter Notation Value Units
Number of points Ntsp
Z coordinate step Zs m

Point indexZ coordinateTemperature, °CSalinity, PSU
10.000
2100.000
3200.000
4300.000
5400.000
6500.000
7600.000
8700.000
9800.000
10900.000
111000.000
121100.000


Estimated depth values
Notation Value Units Description
hts

979.260

 m h = (ΔP / g) · ∑ [1 / ρ(t, P0 + ΔPi), s], i=1..Np, g=g(φ), t=t(z), s=s(z)



  1. Theoretical gravity on wikipedia.
  2. Department of Defense World Geodetic System 1984 ― Its Definition and Relationships with Local Geodetic Systems,NIMA TR8350.2, 3rd ed., Tbl. 3.4, Eq. 4-1
  3. In situ water density. Millero et al 1980, deep-sea res.,27a,255-264, jpots ninth report 1978, tenth report 1980.
  4. Nayar, Kishor G.; Sharqawy, Mostafa H.; Banchik, Leonardo D.; Lienhard V, John H. (July 2016). "Thermophysical properties of seawater: A review and new correlations that include pressure dependence". Desalination. 390: 1–24.
  5. Taylor, Barry N.; Thompson, Ambler, eds. (March 2008). The international system of units (SI) (Report). National Institute of Standards and Technology. p. 52. NIST special publication 330, 2008 edition.
  6. ITTC – Recommended Procedures 7.5-02-01-03. Fresh Water and Seawater Properties. Effective Date 2011 Revision 02, Updated / Edited by Approved Quality Systems Group of the 28 th ITTC 26 th ITTC 2011, Date 09/2016.

This calculator is made with UCNLPhysics free and open source library.

(C) Alek Dikarev, 2020
For bug reports, suggestions and questions, please feel free to reach me