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FOREWORD 



It has become increasingly evident that the accuracy of the Kuwahara 

 equation for computing sound speeds in sea water is not sufficient for 

 present day needs. In situ nneasurements of sound speed in sea water 

 indicate that at some depths the speed calculated by the Kuwahara 

 equation is 3 to 4 meters per second too slow. To remedy this inade- 

 quacy a conference of interested parties, held at the Hydrographic Office 

 in May 1961, concluded that the sound speed equation of Kuwahara 

 should be replaced by the empiriced equation developed at the Naval 

 Ordnance Laboratory by Wayne D. Wilson. Since that time this Office 

 has been recomputing available sound speed data on the basis of Wilson's 

 equation. The tables presented here have been developed from the Wilson 

 equation to facilitate hand computation of sound speeds from tempera- 

 ture and scdinity data. 



Although continuing research may yield more accurate equations, 

 these tables are individually accurate to the nearest 0.1 nrieter per 

 second and the total error in any computation within the normal range 

 of oceanographic variables should be less than 0.3 meter per second. 



E. C. STJ 



Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy 



Comjnander 



III 



