text: The total boron (B) is the sum of boron species in a solution. In the environment these species usually include boric acid and borate, for example:
  :B = [] + []
  where
  *B is the total boron concentration
  *[] is the dihydrogen borate concentration
  *[] is the boric acid concentration
  Total boron is an important quantity when determining alkalinity due to borates contribution to a solutions acid neutraling capacity. Total boron is a conservative element in seawater, and can thus be calculated by simply knowing the salinity.