Question

The Atlantic Ocean has higher salinity than other oceans because ________.

a-it has less rainfall and runoff and more evaporation than other oceans
b-it is getting larger, and this increases the area where salt can flow into the ocean
c-it has more rainfall and runoff and less evaporation than other oceans
d-it spans all of the latitudes
e-it is getting smaller and this decrease the surface area for salt to evaporate

Answer 1

The Atlantic Ocean has higher salinity mainly due to less rainfall and runoff combined with higher evaporation rates, especially in subtropical latitudes where conditions are drier and warmer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Atlantic Ocean has higher salinity than other oceans primarily because it has less rainfall and runoff and more evaporation than other oceans. This greater rate of evaporation relative to precipitation enhances the salinity of the ocean water. Factors such as location near dry, subtropical latitudes, where less precipitation falls and the evaporation rates are higher due to warmer temperatures, contribute to the process. Oceans with high salinity like the Atlantic, do not become saline solely because they span all of the latitudes or because they are getting larger or smaller in size. Instead, climate patterns, global wind circulation cells, and specific geographic features influence rainfall, runoff, and evaporation rates, thereby affecting the salinity of the oceans.