Ch 14. Ocean Temperature and Salinity Flashcards
What is the average temperature of the Ocean ?
Average temperature of ocean is 3-5
degree Celsius
Average surface temperature of ocean water is ?
25°C
Highest temperature of ocean water is found at ____ ?
a)Equator
b)Tropics
b) Tropics
Highest temperature is not found near the equator (reflection of Sun rays due to high cloud over) instead but noticed at the tropics
Boiling point of an ocean increases with increasing salinity. True or false ?
True
What is a Thermocline ?
Boundary region between the surface waters and the deeper layers is known as Thermocline. It is usually 100-400 meters below the sea surface and extends several hundreds of Km.
The ocean temperature reduces very rapidly up to the depth of _____ m
200 m
Define three layers of ocean based on vertical distribution of Temperature
First layer: 500 meters thick; 20-25 °C
Second/Thermocline Layer: 500 -1,000 m thick; featured by rapid decrease in temperature.
Third layer: stretches up to the deep ocean floor; close to 0° C
What is the rate of decrease of ocean temperature with increasing latitude ?
Around 0.5°C/latitude.
What are mean temperatures of ocean water at 20°, 40° and 0° latitudes
20° latitude - 22°C
40° latitude - 14°C
0° latitude - 0°C
Ocean salinity of ______ ppm has been regarded as the upper limit to demarcate as ‘brackish water’
24.7 ppm
Ocean salinity increases towards equator and poles. True or False ?
False
● Equator - Heavier rains cause incorporation of freshwater.
● Poles - Less evaporation prevents removal of water molecules from the surface.
Which seas have highest salinity in the world ?
(This card needs modifications)
Lake Van of Turkey - 330‰
Dead Sea - 240‰
Great Salt Lake - 220‰
What is Halocline ?
Halocline - a zone in the ocean where salinity increases very sharply.
Temperature, Density and Salinity in the ocean are directly related to each other. True or false ?
False
Temperature ∝ 1/Salinity ∝ 1/Density
