Ocean Water

The salt has seeped into the oceans by dissolving out of the rocks, and being carried down rivers into the ocean for millions of years. Salinity- the concentration of all dissolved salts it contains. –It is lower in places with high amounts of rain and where rivers flow into the ocean.

Temperature Zones Surface Zone – warmer, sunlight heats the top of it –In places where the sun never reaches temperatures can be just above freezing –In between these two is the thermocline. Water temperatures rapidly fall with depth making the thermocline this boundary between warm and cold water. WE can feel the thermocline in a lake.

Oceans Importance One of the most important functions of the world’s oceans is to absorb and store energy from sunlight –this helps to regulate temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. –Absorb over half of the Energy from the sun –Absorbs and releases it slower than the geosphere –Helps to regulate the temperature throughout the world.

Ocean Currents Surface currents: stream-like movements of water that occur at or near the surface of the ocean –Wind driven –Could be warm or cold water Do not easily mix with one another; therefore, warm water can travel hundreds of miles through cold air. Can influence the climates of land areas they pass Deep currents: flow very slowly along the ocean floor.