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AKS: Describe the chemical and physical composition of the ocean.

AKS: Describe the chemical and physical composition of the ocean. Why is the ocean salty?. Ocean used to cover much of the Earth Undersea volcanoes erupted which put chemicals in the water Over time, lava from the volcanoes built up areas of land

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AKS: Describe the chemical and physical composition of the ocean.

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  1. AKS: Describe the chemical and physical composition of the ocean.

  2. Why is the ocean salty? • Ocean used to cover much of the Earth • Undersea volcanoes erupted which put chemicals in the water • Over time, lava from the volcanoes built up areas of land • When rain fell, it washed the chemicals (containing various types of salts) from the land into the ocean

  3. How salty is the ocean? • On average, one kilogram (kg) of ocean water contains about 35 grams (g) of salts • We calls this 35 parts per thousand (kilo means one thousand) • Key word: SALINITY • Means the total amount of dissolved salts in the water

  4. What is in ocean water? • Several dissolved minerals are found in the ocean: • • Major Components • ™ Na+ (Sodium) • ™ Cl- (Chloride) • Sodium and Chloride make up about 86% of the dissolved salts found in the ocean. • SO4- (Sulfate) • Mg2+ (Magnesium) • Ca2+ (Calcium) • K+ (Potassium) **Sodium and chloride are the minerals used to make table salt**

  5. Can salinity change? • YES! • Near the surface: rain, snow, melting ice can all add fresh water (this decreases the salinity) • Large rivers pour into the oceans (the salinity decreases there) • Evaporation leaves salt behind (this increases salinity) • Freezing of water leaves salt behind, like at the Poles (this increases salinity)

  6. Salinity • Areas of HIGH Salinity • Areas of LOW Salinity

  7. Salinity changes Processes that affect salinity: evaporation, precipitation, runoff, freezing, and thawing The heat capacity of water decreases with increasing salinity As salinity increases, freezing point decreases As salinity increases, evaporation slows (boiling point increases)

  8. How much does salinity change • While the salinity of the ocean can change in different parts, it remains fairly constant overall due to _______________. • EVAPORATION

  9. What gases are in the ocean? • Two main gases: Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide • O comes from the atmosphere and algae (photosynthesis) • Which one is more abundant in the water? • CARBON DIOXIDE

  10. How does temperature change in the ocean water? • As you travel away from the equator, the temperature decreases. • As you go deeper into the ocean (or “water column”), the temperature decreases. Look at pg. 442. • 3 Temp Zones • Surface: from surface to 200 meters down, avg temp of 17.5 degr C. • Transition: from bottom of surface to 1 km down, 4 degr C • Deep: from 1 km down to ocean floor (3.8 km), avg temp of 3.5 degr C.

  11. How does pressure change in the ocean water? • It increases continuously from the surface to the deepest part of the ocean. • Pressure at the ocean floor is about 400 times greater than on the surface. • A diver can descend safely only to about 40 meters. • Causes problems for scientists who want to study the ocean. • Must use submersibles: underwater vehicle built of strong materials to resist pressure.

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