Properties of Ocean WaterProperties of Ocean Water

Can you see what the sea’s Can you see what the sea’s about?about?

The OceanThe Ocean

• About About 68%68% of the Earth is covered in of the Earth is covered in ocean water.ocean water.

• The average depth of all oceans is The average depth of all oceans is about 2.3 miles.about 2.3 miles.

• There are four oceans There are four oceans • The largest one is the Pacific OceanThe largest one is the Pacific Ocean• Ocean waster has both chemical and Ocean waster has both chemical and

physical propertiesphysical properties

ColorColor

• Most sunlight that Most sunlight that reaches Earth falls reaches Earth falls on the oceanon the ocean

• Color is determined Color is determined by the way the by the way the ocean ocean ABSORBSABSORBS or or REFLECTSREFLECTS sunlight. sunlight.

Why blue?Why blue?

• The color of the ocean is normally The color of the ocean is normally blue because the ocean reflects the blue because the ocean reflects the color of the color of the DAYTIMEDAYTIME sky. sky.

• BUT BUT phytoplankton or other phytoplankton or other microscopic creatures or plants alter microscopic creatures or plants alter the color of the ocean. the color of the ocean.

ChlorophyllChlorophyll

• Chlorophyll, which phytoplankton Chlorophyll, which phytoplankton contain, makes ocean surfaces contain, makes ocean surfaces look green.look green.

• Plankton Bloom is a large amount Plankton Bloom is a large amount of plankton concentrated in one of plankton concentrated in one areaarea

TemperatureTemperature

• Ocean water absorbs and reflects Ocean water absorbs and reflects sunlight.sunlight.

• By absorbing sunlight, the sunlight By absorbing sunlight, the sunlight heats the water.heats the water.

• Upper zone of ocean water absorbs Upper zone of ocean water absorbs sunlight completely.sunlight completely.

• Water movement mixes Water movement mixes WARMWARM surface water with surface water with COLDCOLD deep water. deep water.

ThermoclineThermocline

• Zone of rapid Zone of rapid temperature temperature DROPDROP below the ocean below the ocean surface. surface.

• Separates Separates WARMWARM surface water with surface water with COLDCOLD deep water.deep water.

How It WorksHow It Works

• The deeper you go The deeper you go the colder it gets.the colder it gets.

• Lack of sunlight Lack of sunlight reduces heat and reduces heat and light in low depths.light in low depths.

SalinitySalinity

• All water has dissolved gases, liquids, or All water has dissolved gases, liquids, or solids in it.solids in it.

• Salinity is the number of grams of Salinity is the number of grams of dissolved salt in 1kg of ocean water.dissolved salt in 1kg of ocean water.

• I.E. How much salt is dissolved in certain I.E. How much salt is dissolved in certain amount of water.amount of water.

• Measured in parts per thousandMeasured in parts per thousand 5g in 1kg = 5%5g in 1kg = 5%o.o.

Why Salinity Occurs?Why Salinity Occurs?

• Salinity depends on TEMPERATURE and and gases or solids that enter gases or solids that enter ocean waterocean water..

• EVAPORATIONEVAPORATION & FREEZING FREEZING both increase both increase salinity.salinity.

• EVAPORATIONEVAPORATION & FREEZING FREEZING only removes water molecules, leaving salt molecules behind.

How Salt Gets There?How Salt Gets There?

• Rivers, streams, and Rivers, streams, and groundwater carry groundwater carry water and dissolved water and dissolved minerals or salts from minerals or salts from the rocks they have the rocks they have washed over into the washed over into the oceanocean

Elements in Ocean WaterElements in Ocean Water• Salinity is greatly affected the amount of gases and Salinity is greatly affected the amount of gases and

solids that enter ocean watersolids that enter ocean water

• Most abundant elements dissolved in ocean water Most abundant elements dissolved in ocean water are…are…

ElementElement Percent of Ocean Water Percent of Ocean Water

by Massby Mass

Chlorine (CI)Chlorine (CI) 1.94%1.94%

Sodium (Na)Sodium (Na) 1.08%1.08%

Magnesium (Mg)Magnesium (Mg) 0.13%0.13%

Sulfur (S)Sulfur (S) 0.09%0.09%

Calcium (Ca)Calcium (Ca) 0.04%0.04%

Potassium (K)Potassium (K) 0.04%0.04%

Dissolved GasesDissolved Gases

• Gases dissolve better in cold waterGases dissolve better in cold water

• The The coldercolder the body of water, the more gases dissolved the body of water, the more gases dissolved in the oceanin the ocean

• The The warmerwarmer the body of water, the more gases that will the body of water, the more gases that will return to the atmospherereturn to the atmosphere

• Three principal gases dissolved in the ocean are Three principal gases dissolved in the ocean are

1.1. Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide (CO (CO22) )

2.2. NitrogenNitrogen (N (N22))

3.3. OxygenOxygen (O (O22))

• Carbon Dioxide is the easiest to dissolve in ocean waterCarbon Dioxide is the easiest to dissolve in ocean water

• Oxygen mainly dissolves at the water surfaceOxygen mainly dissolves at the water surface

Quick NotesQuick Notes

• Color is determined by how the earth absorbs or Color is determined by how the earth absorbs or reflects sunlight.reflects sunlight.

• Thermocline is a zone of rapid temperature change Thermocline is a zone of rapid temperature change in the oceanin the ocean

• Salinity is the number of grams of dissolved salt in Salinity is the number of grams of dissolved salt in 1kg of ocean water. (measured in parts per 1kg of ocean water. (measured in parts per thousand)thousand)

• Gases dissolve better in cold water.Gases dissolve better in cold water.

Don’t Let it ChangeDon’t Let it Change