Water chemistry and Salinity
Compare the amount of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in the oceans with the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air.
There is more carbon dioxide in the ocean than in the air whereas the concentration of oxygen in seawater is lower than in the air.
How do surface currents affect water?
They carry warm or cold water throughout the oceans causing mixing and bring cold or warm water to coastal regions affecting climate.
What is upwelling?
the movement of cold water upward from the deep ocean that brings nutrients to the surface
What is the main cause of surface currents?
wind
How does a surface current affect the climate of the land near the coast?
A surface current affects the temperature and amount of precipitation of the land near the coast. (it warms or cools the air above it, influencing the climate of the nearby land).
Gas content:
A. More oxygen at surface than deeper due to closeness to atmosphere and presence of algae B. More oxygen where there are lots of plants and algae C. More carbon dioxide where there are lots of animals 60% more carbon dioxide in water than in air D. More oxygen at poles where water is cooler Temperature of the ocean varies from place to place. Near the equator, ocean surface temperatures often reach 25 degrees Celsius. The temperature drops as you travel away from the equator. Because warm water is less dense than cold water, warm water forms only a thin layer on the ocean surface. The deeper you descend into the ocean, the colder the water gets. Weather conditions can affect ocean water temperatures. Carbon dioxide is about 60 times as plentiful in the oceans as in the air. The amount of carbon dioxide in ocean water will vary depending on plant (use carbon dioxide) and animal (produce carbon dioxide) abundance. Oxygen is scarcer in ocean water than in the air. Its concentration is greater at ocean surface than deeper. Its concentration is greater where there is plentiful algae. Oxygen is more plentiful in colder water, so seawater at polar regions has more oxygen. There is higher temperatures near surface.
How do the temperature and gas content of ocean water vary?
A. The closer to the equator the warmer it is B. The closer to the surface, the warmer it is C. Weather conditions affect water temperature.
How do conditions in the ocean change with depth?
A. pressure increase as depth increases B. temperature decreases with depth C. light decreases with depth D. salinity of water varies at surface, but remains fairly constant deeper. Light penetrates to about 200 m. Near the surface, temperature is affected by weather. In the transition zone, the temperature drops rapidly. In the deep zone, water is always extremely cold. Rainfall decreases salinity near the surface,while evaporation increases salinity in the warm, dry areas. Below the surface zone, salinity remains fairly constant throughout the water column. Pressure increases with depth.
What is an El Nino? How often does it occur and what does it do?
An abnormal climate event (warm water in the western Pacific is blown toward the east Pacific) that occurs every 2-7 years in the Pacific Ocean. It causes more extreme weather events.
How does the temperature of the ocean change with depth?
As you descend through the water column, the water temperature decreases.
How does the Coriolis effect move ocean currents?
Curves the current to the (right) in the Northern hemisphere and curves currents to the left in the Southern hemisphere.
What causes deep currents?
Deep currents are caused by differences in density of ocean water (density depends on temperature and salinity).
How do deep currents affect the ocean water around the world?
Deep currents cause cold water to creep slowly along the ocean floor. They move and mix water around the world They carry cold water from the equator to the poles
Why is the ocean salty?
During early Earth history, underwater volcanic eruptions added chemicals to Earth's oceans. Also, evaporation removes only water from the ocean and leaves the minerals behind. When it rains on land, rainwater carries minerals to the sea.
What is the name of the major surface current that carries warm water from the Eastern Florida Coast along the Eastern coast of the United States?
Gulf Stream
what is El Nino?
an abnormal climate event that occurs every 2-7 years in the Pacific Ocean
And then across the Atlantic to Northern Europe?
North Atlantic Drift
How does salinity affect ocean water?
Ocean water does not freeze until the temperature drops to about -1.9o C. Salt water has a higher density than fresh water. Consequently, salt water has greater buoyancy.
How salty is ocean water?
On an average, one kilogram of ocean water contains about 35 grams of salts - that is 35 parts per thousand, but it can vary from 34 - 37. (3.5%)
What are some factors that cause differences in the salinity of the ocean?
Precipitation decreases salinity Evaporation increases salinity Flow of freshwater (rivers) into ocean Freezing increases salinity Melting decreases salinity volcanic eruptions increase salinity
How does water pressure change with increasing depth?
Pressure increases continuously with depth in the ocean.
What is the relationship between water temperature and water density?
The colder the water, the more dense the water.
How does an upwelling affect the waters of the ocean?
Upwelling brings up tiny organisms, minerals and nutrients from the deeper layers of the water.
Other items related to ocean chemistry and climate:
What is the location on the Earth where suns rays are most direct - equator What is the location on the Earth where the suns rays are the least direct - poles What is the most abundant salt in the ocean? sodium chloride Which ocean zone is most affected by weather? surface zone What factor determines the amount of solar energy an area receives? latitude What is the latitude of the equator? 0 degrees Can you read climate graphs? The numbers refer to the diagram on the right.
what is a current?
a large stream of moving water that flows through an ocean
Salinity
a measure of dissolved salts in water
What type of living organisms photosynthesizes in the ocean and adds oxygen to the water?
algae
How does dissolved oxygen get into the water?
photosynthesis by aquatic organisms and diffusion between the atmosphere and surface of the ocean.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
rotation of the Earth that causes wind and ocean currents to curve
what is the Coriolis Effect?
rotation of the Earth that causes wind and ocean currents to curve