PP2 – Structure of the oceans

Question 1

What is density?

Answer 1

Mass of substance per uni volume (kg/m3)

Question 2

What is the addition/removal of solutes equivalent to?

Answer 2

Addition/removal of water

Question 3

What are examples of salt removal processes?

Answer 3

Sea spray, evaporite formation, absorption onto particles, formation of insoluble products, harvesting by organisms

Question 4

What is a source of salt? (cations)

Answer 4

Weathering igneous rocks

Transport via rivers

Question 5

What is a source of salt? (Anions)

Answer 5

From mantle

Early atmosphere

Released by volcanoes

Question 6

What are types of seawater solutes?

Answer 6

Salt ions

Dissolved materials

Nutrients

Gases

Organic compounds

Question 7

What is the typical salt content of seawater?

Answer 7

~35ppt

Question 8

What is temperature?

Answer 8

Average kinetic energy of atoms/molecules

Question 9

What does an increase in kinetic energy mean?

Answer 9

Increase in vibrations/motions = more collisions

= Higher temperature

Question 10

What is surface salinity of oceans controlled by?

Answer 10

Balance of precipitation v evaporation

Question 11

At what temperatures is evaporation dominant over precipitation?

Answer 11

20°C-35°C

Question 12

Where is precipitation dominant?

Answer 12

At the equator and at poles

Question 13

What is surface salinity distribution dependent on?

Answer 13

Climate i.e. latitude

Question 14

What does seawater density increase with?

Answer 14

Decreasing temperature

Increasing salinity

Increasing pressure

Question 15

What does variation in temperature (T) and salinity (S) mean?

Answer 15

There will be variations in density