Seawater 15.2

Consumption of sediments by bottom-feeding organisms

A process that REMOVES SALT from seawater

Flow of rivers into the oceans

A process which DOES NOT ADD salts to seawater

Sequence of Water Mass movement:

A): Sea Ice forms during the winter B): Salt Ions accumulate beneath the ice C): Cold, salty water sinks D): Salty water migrates along the ocean floor to equator

3.5 percent

About what percentage of seawater is DISSOLVED SALTS?

Estuaries

Areas where large rivers empty into oceans

High rates of EVAPORATION and Low rates of Precipitation

Causes surface ocean water to have a higher salt content

Bottom Layer

Deepest Layer of the Ocean; 3000 - 4000 meters deep; cold, dark, temperatures near freezing

Comparisons of modern seashells and fossil shells

Evidence which indicates that the salt content of ancient oceans was about the same as it is today

Surface layer

Highest layer of the ocean; Relatively warm; lit by the sun; 0 - 1000 meters deep

Nutrients

In addition to salt, which substance is dissolved in seawater?

Thermocline

Second deepest layer of the ocean; 1000 - 3000 meters deep; its temperature rapidly decreases with depth

Salinity

The amount of DISSOLVED SALTS in seawater

Parts per thousand (ppt)

What UNIT is commonly used to measure the SALT CONTENT of water?

Sodium Chloride

Which SALT is most abundant in seawater?