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2 votes
2 votes
Think about the composition of the ocean (temperature, salinity, density). What happens to these factors when the sun shines on the ocean?

User DivineDesert
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2 Answers

12 votes
12 votes
of seawater depends upon the temperature, pressure and salinity. If the salinity is greater than the boiling point is raised & hence the temperature is high & also combination of high salinity & high density also produces high temperature. Temperature, density & salinity of sea water are inter‐related with each other.

Basically the sun causes the temp
To go up causing a higher density and salinity
User DRobertE
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3.2k points
14 votes
14 votes

Step-by-step explanation:

Evaporation and precipitation – The surface of the ocean when exposed to the sun’s heat, gets heated up and the water starts evaporating. As water evaporates, the salts are left behind in the ocean. Hence, the salt to water ratio increases i.e. the salinity of the ocean increases. When it rains, the opposite happens. Amount of salts in the water remains the same but the amount of water increases, hence reducing the ocean’s salinity.

Winds by transferring water to other areas – Wind also influences salinity of an area by transferring water to other areas. The winds are a major cause of huge waves. These waves transfer water to different regions in the direction of the wind.

The ocean currents – The ocean currents occur due to changes in temperature. The water gets warm in the tropical region due to direct sunlight. This warm water moves toward colder water (towards the temperate region) to attain equilibrium. These ocean currents also affect the salinity of the ocean.

Freshwater flows from rivers and freezing and thawing of ice – When freshwater from rivers or when water from thawing ice enters the ocean, it decreases the salinity of the ocean. This is the reason why oceans in the polar region are less saline as compared to those in warmer places.

Therefore the correct answer is E

Note

Higher salinity is recorded in the Mediterranean Sea because of high evaporation.

However, salinity is very low in the Black Sea due to the enormous freshwater influx by rivers.

The right amount of salinity in the ocean water is essential for maintaining the osmotic balance for the organisms, the right density for optimum water currents and a favourable freezing point.

User Scabbiaza
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