Evaporation of ocean water and formation of sea ice
both increase the salinity of the ocean. However these “salinity raising” factors are continually counterbalanced by processes that decrease salinity such as the continuous input of fresh water from rivers, precipitation of rain and snow, and melting of ice.
What are 2 factors that can affect chemical composition of seawater?
The physical and chemical properties of seawater vary according to latitude, depth, nearness to land, and input
of fresh water
. Approximately 3.5 percent of seawater is composed of dissolved compounds, while the other 96.5 percent is pure water.
What factors affect the salinity of ocean?
Factors Affecting Ocean Salinity
Wind
, also influences salinity of an area by transferring water to other areas. The ocean currents contribute to the salinity variations. Salinity, temperature and density of water are interrelated. Hence, any change in the temperature or density influences the salinity of an area.
What is salinity of ocean water?
The concentration of salt in seawater (its salinity) is
about 35 parts per thousand
; in other words, about 3.5% of the weight of seawater comes from the dissolved salts.
What is meant by salinity of ocean water?
Ocean salinity is generally defined as
the salt concentration (e.g., Sodium and Chlorure)
in sea water. It is measured in unit of PSU (Practical Salinity Unit), which is a unit based on the properties of sea water conductivity. It is equivalent to per thousand or (o/00) or to g/kg.
What are three factors that affect the chemical composition of seawater?
The three main factors that help in determining the composition of ocean water are
temperature, salinity, and density
. The temperature helps in determining the rate of evaporation of the sea.
What happens when water’s salinity increases?
What happens when water’s salinity increases?
Freezing point decreases
. … Which zone of the ocean can be above or below water, contains waves, and has varied salinity and temperature?
What affects the chemical composition of seawater?
The chemical composition of seawater is influenced by a
wide variety of chemical transport mechanisms
. Rivers add dissolved and particulate chemicals to the oceanic margins. Wind-borne particulates are carried to mid-ocean regions thousands of kilometres from their continental source areas.
What ocean has the highest salinity?
Of the five ocean basins,
the Atlantic Ocean
is the saltiest. On average, there is a distinct decrease of salinity near the equator and at both poles, although for different reasons.
Which ocean has lowest salinity?
The
ocean around Antarctica
has a low salinity of just below 34ppt, and around the Arctic it is down to 30ppt in places.
Which ocean is not salt water?
The
ice in the Arctic and Antarctica
is salt free. You may want to point out the 4 major oceans including the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. Remember that the limits of the oceans are arbitrary, as there is only one global ocean. Students may ask what are the smaller salty water areas called.
What does 35% salinity mean?
Concentration of dissolved salts found in a sample of water. It is measured as the total amount of dissolved salts in parts per 1,000. Seawater has an average salinity of about 35 parts/1,000. … A salinity of 35‰ is the same as
3.5%
. The symbol resembles a percentage sign (%), but percent means per 100.
What are some examples of salinity?
Salts generally found in saline soils include
NaCl (table salt), CaCl2, gypsum (CaSO4), magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride and sodium sulfate
. The calcium and magnesium salts are at a high enough concentration to offset the negative soil effects of the sodium salts.
What causes salinity?
Salinity occurs
when the water table rises, bringing natural salts to the surface
; in sufficient quantity, these salts become toxic to most plants. … Land clearance can also lead to soil erosion and, when it results in a changing water balance, to dryland salinity.
What three factors are most important in determining the composition of ocean water?
Temperature, salinity and pressure
affect the density of seawater. Large water masses of different densities are important in the layering of the ocean water (more dense water sinks). As temperature increases water becomes less dense. As salinity increases water becomes more dense.
What is a high salinity level?
Salinity is either expressed in grams of salt per kilogram of water, or in parts per thousand (ppt, or ‰). … Depending on their location and source of fresh water, some estuaries can have salinities as high as
30 ppt
. Seawater is on average 35 ppt, but it can range between 30 – 40 ppt.