Water variations in the ocean-salinity Flashcards
What is salinity?
The measurement of salt content in the water
What is salinity like near equator?
Low because, lots of rain
What are 5 reasons why salinity varies?
-evaporation
-precipitation
-rivers
-winds
-ice formation
How does evaporation affect salinity?
Higher rates of evaporation, higher salinity as water molecules are evaporated leaving high distribution of salt
How do rivers affect salinity?
Rivers push fresh water into the sea, lowering salinity
How does precipitation affect salinity?
Adding fresh water so lower concentration of salt
How do winds affect salinity?
Blows sand into water, increasing salt concentration
Wind can also blow fresh water into sea, decreasing salinity
How does ice formation affect salinity?
When water freezes and turns to ice, the salt is left behind
What does halocline mean?
The idea that salinity also varies with depth
What happens to salinity as depth increases?
salinity increases