= Water-equivalent thickness
{title2=$h_w=\rho_i h_i/\rho_{w,\mathrm{ref}}$}
= Water equivalent of ice
{synonym}
The water-equivalent thickness expresses an ice mass per area as a depth of water at a declared reference density. With $m_i=\rho_i h_i$ per area, $h_w=m_i/\rho_{w,\mathrm{ref}}$. Ice at $900\ \mathrm{kg\,m^{-3}}$ and thickness $2.44\ \mathrm m$ has about $2.20\ \mathrm m$ water equivalent at a fresh-water reference density of $1000\ \mathrm{kg\,m^{-3}}$. The depth of seawater consumed at $1025\ \mathrm{kg\,m^{-3}}$ is instead about $2.14\ \mathrm m$. A reference depth must not replace ice thickness in an ice-volume calculation or the liquid mass removed in <brine rejection>.
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