Introduction to the Special Issue on the Practical Salinity Scale 1978

This paper outlines the work done at the five laboratories which provided, at the request of the Joint Panel on Oceanographic Tables and Standards (JPOTS), the basic data for the new Practical Salinity Scale 1978, Interlaboratory agreement of a very high order was achieved. The new scale is in process of acceptance by all major oceanographic societies, at which time it will be officially recommended for all future reporting of oceanographic data.