Characteristics of the Ocean

1
Characteristics of the Ocean

• Beth Roland
• Eighth Grade Science
• Team 5 Mountaineers

2
Chemical Composition of Ocean Water
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Dissolved Gases

• Nitrogen(N2), Oxygen (O2), and Carbon Dioxide
  (CO2) are the main gases dissolved in ocean
  water.
• Temperature has an important impact on the amount
  of gases that are able to be dissolved in our
  oceans
• The lower the temperature the more gas molecules
  that can dissolve
• The higher the temperature, the less gas
  molecules that can dissolve

4
Ocean Salinity

• Salinity is the measurement of the amount of
  dissolved solids in a given amount of liquid.
• Ocean water consists mainly of the dissolved
  salt, sodium chloride NaCl also known as common
  table salt.
• On average, ocean water consists of 3.5 of
  dissolved solids but this value varies based on
  climate in a given ocean or sea

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Changes in Salinity

• Climate has a significant impact on an oceans
  salinity
• Coastal water near areas with hot, dry climates
  have higher salinity due to an increase in
  evaporation (leaving more dissolved solids in the
  water)
• Coastal water near areas with cool, humid areas
  have lower salinity due to a decrease in
  evaporation
• Additionally, slow moving bodies of water have
  higher salinity because there is a decrease in
  fresh water inflow

6
Temperature Zones in the Ocean

• Surface Zone- warm, top layer that extends 300 m
  below sea level. Sunlight can penetrate and warm
  cooler water below
• Thermocline- extends to 700 m and here
  temperature drops significantly with depth
• Deep Zone- extends to the bottom of the ocean
  (1200 m) temperature ranges from 1 oC to 3oC

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Current Ocean Temperatures
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Surface Temperature Changes

• The further away from the Earths equator, the
  less direct the suns rays and the cooler the
  temperature
• Additionally, when the Earth is tilted away from
  the sun (fall and winter) the rays are even less
  direct than during our spring and summer months.

9
A Global Thermometer!

• Water has the ability to absorb and hold heat
  energy from the suns radiation.
• Water absorbs heat energy slower than dry land
  but can maintain the heat energy for longer
  periods of time. Ex. Night swimming
• Currents that circulate water carry warmer water
  to areas that are cooler and thus carry heat
  energy to different parts of the world. Ex. The
  gulf stream carrying warm water travels to the
  British Isles and the water temperatures are
  significantly warmer than locations at the same
  latitude