What Does SMOW Stand For?

SMOW stands for Standard Mean Ocean Water

SMOW, or Standard Mean Ocean Water, is a reference standard used in oceanographic and environmental science to define the isotopic composition of seawater. It serves as a baseline for measuring the concentrations of stable isotopes, such as hydrogen and oxygen, in water samples. SMOW is crucial for studies involving hydrology, paleoclimatology, and related fields, providing a consistent frame of reference for comparing isotopic data across different environments and research studies.