Velocity of Sound in Sea Water (20°C, 10m depth) to Centimeter per Minute

The speed of sound in seawater at 20°C and 10 meters depth is approximately 1,522 m/s, varying with temperature, salinity, and pressure.

Complex function of T, S, P. Mackenzie equation: c ≈ 1,449 + 4.6T - 0.055T² + 0.00029T³ + (1.34-0.01T)(S-35) + 0.016z. Typical: ~1,500 m/s.

To km/h: × 3.6. To ft/s: × 3.281. 1,522 m/s = 5,479 km/h = 3,404 mph.

Naval sonar, commercial ship echo sounders, underwater positioning systems, and marine seismic surveys.

Sound speed increases ~1.3 m/s per °C, ~1.3 m/s per PSU salinity, and ~1.7 m/s per 100m depth. SOFAR channel at ~1000m depth traps sound for thousands of km.

Using a single constant — sound speed in the ocean varies significantly with depth and location. Always measure or calculate for local conditions.

~1,500 m/s is a good approximation. Remember: warmer, saltier, deeper = faster sound. Critical for accurate sonar ranging.

Centimeter per minute measures distance in centimeters traveled over one minute. Used for small-scale, slow-moving processes.

1 cm/min = 0.01 m/min = 0.0001667 m/s = 0.0006 km/h.

To m/s: ÷ 6,000. To m/min: ÷ 100. To mm/min: × 10.

Snail movement (1–2 cm/min), slow laboratory stirrers, small conveyor systems, and plant growth measurements (fast-growing plants).

Garden snail: ~1 cm/min. Sloth movement: ~2 cm/min. Fast-growing bamboo shoots: up to 1.5 cm/min during peak growth.

Confusing with cm/s (60× faster) or cm/h (60× slower).

100 cm/min = 1 m/min. Good for measuring small creatures or slow mechanical processes.