NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.: Oceanography Salinity
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Thermohaline Circulation & Ocean Salinity Made Simple - In 20 Minutes
Salinity
It is defined as the ratio between the weight of the dissolved material and the weight of sample sea water.
- Generally salinity is defined as the total amount of solid material in gm. contained in one kg. of sea water and is expressed at part 1000 means 30 gm.
- The average salinity of 35% is recorded between latitude in the southern hemisphere.
- The zone between latitude in both the hemisphere records lowest salinity where it is 31%-33%
Pacific Ocean
- Near the equator, salinity is 34.85% ;
- It increases to 35% between latitude in the north hemisphere; But in the southern hemisphere, it increases to 36% i.e.. more than sea;
- Besides salt, silver, gold and radium also occur but in minute proportion in sea water.
- These elements are 0.3 (silver) , 0.006 (gold) and 0.0000002 mg/metric tonne or part/1000 million.
Atlantic Ocean
- Average salinity is 35.67% ;
- Highest is between latitude;
- In North latitude, salinity is 34.98% and in North, it is 36% ;
- In South, salinity is 37.77% .
Indian Ocean
- From North latitude, salinity is 35% ; North, the salinity is 33.5% ;
- Near Persian Gulf, 40% ; highest is in Red sea, 3641% . (In the landlocked sea, lowest salinity js in Caspian sea, i.e.. 14% in the northern part. But in the Kara Bnpa? bav salinity is highest i.e.. 170%) .
- Near Salt Lake (US) , salinity is 220% . In Red sea, salinity is 240% , in Dead sea, it is 238% .
Distribution of Salinity
The average salinity in the oceans and the sea is 35% .
Horizontal Distribution: on an average, salinity decreases from equator towards tne poles. The equator accounts only 35% of salinity.
- The highest salinity is observed between N. . because this zone has high temperature, high evaporation, but low rainlall least i.e.. 31% , near Manchurian, it is 34% , this salinity in Manchuria is severe because of Oyashio current coming from Berring Strait.
- In the Southern hemisphere, lowest is near the Peruvian and Chilean coast i.e.. 33% .
✍ Manishika