text: what is the salinity of the polar ice caps? the salinity of the oceans averages 35% . . . but some of the water frozen at the poles must be frozen sea water, as opposed to frozen fresh water that has fallen as snow and condensed to ice.  has the average salinity of the ice caps ever been determined?  perhaps by testing an iceberg? the salinity is low as most of the frozen water is fresh. even the sea ice de-salinates as it freezes to an extent (losing the salt into the ocean).