Gulf of Mexico Water Salinity: Understanding Salt Content

The salinity of the water in the Gulf of Mexico varies depending on location and season. On average, the salinity is around 36 parts per thousand (ppt), which means that there are 36 grams of salt in every kilogram of seawater. However, the salinity can range from as low as 25 ppt in the northern part of the Gulf to over 40 ppt in the southern part. The salinity is also higher during the summer months when the evaporation of water from the surface of the Gulf is greatest.