Oceans: Salinity, Currents & Climate

Why is the Ocean Salty? Read this link to answer the following questions about ocean salinity. Salt in the oceans comes from minerals carried by rivers minerals from hydrothermal vents minerals from volcanoes All of the above None of the above The average salinity in the ocean is 35parts per thousand (ppt).Salinity in the ocean increases by evaporation.Salinity in the ocean decreases by precipitationWhile the wind drivescurrents near the surface of the ocean. Changes in salinity cause densitychanges in the of seawater deep in the ocean. These deep water currents cause the oceans to movearound the globe. Specific Heat of Water Water has a high specific heat, meaning, it can absorb more heat than any other liquid before changing temperature by 1 degree. That means, if you heat both air and water with the same amount of energy, the increase in temperature of the air will be greater than the increase in temperature of the water.Water RESISTS changes in temperature and is therefore water temperature is less likely to fluctuate than air temperature.Watch the video below for a demonstration of this effect! Considering the definition of specific heat (above), which do you think is most likely true about the temperatures of oceans versus air? ocean temperatures are more constant than air temperatures. ocean temperatures are less constant than air temperatures. NASA: Oceans, a driving force for weather climate Watch the video and fill in the blanks below as the video progresses. Watch the video and fill in the blanks to the questions accordingly. Watch your spelling, as this is auto-checked. Minute 1:061.The atmosphere moves heat quicklyand the ocean moves heat slowly.Minute 1:472. Surface ocean currents move by windsand deep currents move by changes in density.3. The current the moves along the eastern coast of the United States toward Europe is called the Gulf Stream.Minute 1:564. Mixing and upwelling transport nutrients to the ocean surface.Minute 2:525. El Nino and La Nina occur when changing windpatterns displace warm and cool water in the Pacific. When this happens there are changes in air temperature and humidity. This in turn sends stormsand rainfall to new locations.Minute 3:356. The Gulf Stream affects the climate of Europe by bringing warmertemperatures.Minute 4:197. Hurricanes form in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean because these ocean basins store large amounts of heat.