Environment: The Science Behind the Stories (5th Edition)
Environment: The Science Behind the Stories (5th Edition)
5th Edition
ISBN: 9780321897428
Author: Jay H. Withgott, Matthew Laposata
Publisher: PEARSON
Question
Book Icon
Chapter 16, Problem 1TYC
To determine

The proportion of Earth’s surface oceans covers, the average salinity of ocean water and the way in which density, salinity and temperature are related in each layer of ocean water.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1TYC

Oceans cover 71% proportion of the Earth’s surface and the ocean water have 3.5% of salts in it. Water temperature decreases with depth, and density increases slightly at lower temperatures and higher salinities. Therefore, deep water tends to be denser, colder, and saltier than the surface water.

Explanation of Solution

The ocean’s water form layers, with dense water at the bottom. The density of sea water is determined by temperature and salt content. Deep water is dense because it is cold. Surface water is generally salty because of evaporation. But the increase in density due to evaporation is more than offset by the decrease in density due to warming.

Approximately 71 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by oceans that have an average depth of 3800m. The salinity is the total amount of salt dissolved in seawater. The total constituents in ocean salinity are chloride, sodium, sulfate, bicarbonate, potassium, calcium and magnesium that make the average seawater salinity 3.5%.

The salinity, temperature and density are related in each layer of ocean on following ways:

Salinity: An increase in salinity adds dissolved substance and results in an increase in seawater density in each layer of ocean.

Temperature: As the ocean temperature decreases, its density increases. Cold water with high salinity is some of the highest density water in the world.

Density: Due to variation in salinity and temperature, density increases with increasing salinity and density decreases with increasing temperature.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
explain how cold water impacts muscle function and the time frame for effective self rescue?e describe the body’s physiological response, like gasping reflex ,hyperventilation and their potential dangers?detail the stages of hypothermia, it’s symptoms and why it is critical in cold water immersion.
describe clothing and equipment choices when working in extreme cold weather conditions and strategies for physical activity and rest, first aid measures and a deep insight into the application of physiological concepts to personal safety and the difficulties in creating a plan with high level understanding. summarize key concepts of environmental safety and the importance of understanding and applying environmental physiology principles?
Analyze working on a cold site during winter, some major risks of your body when exposed to cold ?the heat balance equation and how it relates to the body’s response to cold environments, preventive measures to adopt, discuss some first aid measures? discuss how the body’s themoregulatory responses can be applied to personal safety in cold environments? discuss the challenges in creating a plan and how your understanding of environmental physiology helped overcome them? summarize key concepts of your safety plan, and emphasize the importance of understanding and applying environmental physiology principles to ensure safety in extreme environments?
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134041360
Author:Greg Carbone
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:9781260153125
Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:McGraw-Hill Education
Text book image
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:9780134543536
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:PEARSON
Text book image
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:9781337569613
Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:9781259916823
Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,