Earth Science, Tarbuck Chap 14

Question 1

What is Salinity

Answer 1

The amount of dissolved solids to liquid

Question 2

Describe precipitation and evaporation rates of subtropical regions

Answer 2

Low precipitation and High evaporation

Question 3

Generally, does salinity change based on ocean depth?

Answer 3

Because the ocean is well mixed, the relative abundances
of the major components in seawater are essentially constant, no matter where the ocean is sampled.

Question 4

Which Ocean is the saltiest

Answer 4

Atlantic, due to high evaporation

Question 5

What is the Thermocline

Answer 5

The layer of ocean water between
about 300meters (980 feet) and 1000 meters (3300 feet),
where temperature changes rapidly with depth,

Question 6

Difference between temperature gradients of water columns in High vs Low Latitude

Answer 6

Water columns in high latitude usually show a temperature gradient that doesn’t that much, as it is much colder and there is less sunlight to heat the surface of the water. In high latitude areas, there is no thermocline.

Water columns in Low latitude usually show a drastic temperature gradient due to there being a lot of sunlight toward the surface, there is a thermocline.

Question 7

Density difference between Fresh and salt water

Answer 7

Saltwater is denser due to having more dissolved materials in the water.

Question 8

Relation of Salinity and Density

Answer 8

Higher Salinity means higher Density due to more dissolved solids

Question 9

Relation of Temperature an Density

Answer 9

Higher temperatures means lower density due to the expansion of water

Question 10

What is the Pycnocline

Answer 10

layer between about
300meters (980 feet) and
1000 meters (3300 feet), where
density changes rapidly with
depth

Question 11

Where is the pycnocline absent

Answer 11

high latitudes, as water is usually uniformly cold