In fact, the North Atlantic Ocean tends to be the saltiest, much more than the Pacific. Image Credit: NASA Aquarius/SAC-D mission Both temperature and salinity impact where the water goes as it circulates throughout the globe. LIke temperature, the salt in the ocean affects its density (the amount mass per volume). In other words, salty water has more materials in the water than freshwater which makes it more dense than freshwater. The rule is simple - salt makes water heavier, so it sinks. Salt is really just a molecule in the ocean water, but collectively, that salinity plays an important role in the ocean circulation. At these locations, there is a large difference between temperatures during the day and night, and during the warmest and coldest parts of the year. Sites away from the coast lack this temperature buffering and have extreme "continental" climates (like Wichita). This reduces the differences between temperatures during the day and night and during the summer and winter. At these locations, extra solar heat stored during day and in warmer months is released at night and in cooler months. Sites on islands or coasts benefit from the moderating effect of the ocean and have "maritime" climates (like San Francisco). Warmer water masses are found near equatorial regions and colder water masses are found near polar regions. So, as the planet warms, it's the ocean that gets most of the extra energy. The top few meters of the ocean store as much heat as Earth's entire atmosphere. One big part of the ocean’s role is to soak up energy (heat) and distribute it more evenly around the Earth. The ocean does an excellent job of absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere. Water chilled by colder temperatures at high latitudes contracts (thus gets denser), sinks, and moves back toward the equator. The heat in the water is carried to higher latitudes by ocean currents where it is released into the atmosphere. In this way, heated water raises the normal level of the sea surface. Solar heat absorbed at the equator causes water to expand. Like the heated air in a hot-air balloon, heated water expands. For example, warm salt water might float on colder, less salty water.Įach of these characteristics of ocean water, salinity and temperature, are important for the role of oceans in Earth's climate system. Both salinity and temperature work affect the density of water at the same time, so things can get complicated. Temperature is another factor that affects density. That is why it is easier to float in the ocean than in a fresh-water swimming pool or lake, and fresh water floats on top of salty ocean water. In general, ocean water is more dense than fresh water, since ocean water contains more salt. The saltiness of water is one factor that affects its density. These two regions don't mix except in certain special areas. The oceans are mostly composed of less dense water near the surface over more dense water in the ocean depths. Why do ocean waters move?ĭensity differences are the key to why ocean waters move. However, it is an important job considering that these waters affect Earth’s climate, as well as habitats for plants and animals, even on land. Ocean waters are constantly on the move understanding how and why they move is not an easy task.
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