Properties of Ocean Water

What’s in ocean water? Minerals left behind by gases, rivers & streams leaves elements & gases

What’s in ocean water? Elements found in ocean water include:

What’s in ocean water? Dissolved gases are: Nitrogen (N2) Oxygen (O2) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Same gases found in atmosphere

What’s in ocean water? Temperature plays vital role to amount of dissolved gases in water Cold regions have a larger amount of gases than warm regions

What’s Salinity? Amount of dissolved salts present in a sample of ocean water Described in parts per thousand

What’s Salinity? Salinity in various regions all differ Range from 33 0/00 to 40 0/00 Average Salinity = 34.7 0/00 or rounded to 35 0/00

Ocean Temperature Surface Temperature due to ocean mixing water can be heated to a depth of approx. 300m

Ocean Temperature Ocean is Earth’s greatest storehouse of heat

Thermocline Due to lack of sunlight at certain depths temperature can drop dramatically

The zone of water where temperature drops is the thermocline

Thermocline

Color of Ocean Determined by the way light is reflected or absorbed. All colors of the rainbow are absorbed with blue being last color absorbed Because it is the last absorbed our eyes see blue

If 1 kg of ocean water evaporates and 35g of salt remain the salinity is written as 35 0/00 Equator = 30oC (86oF) Poles = -2oC (28.4oF)