Abstract. A precise and accurate technique for the determination of Li and Rb in sea water has been developed by using a double channel flame emission spectrophotometer. The advantage of this technique is that it is possible to correct the background emission by making use of the double channel system of the apparatus and to obtain constant intensity of emission even if there are large scale changes in the salinity of the sample. Sea water samples collected in the open sea and coastal areas of Japan were analyzed by this method. In one of the coastal areas, an extraordinarily high concentration of Li was found.
