How is ocean salinity related to the water cycle?

How is ocean salinity related to the water cycle?

Evaporation of ocean water and formation of sea ice both increase the salinity of the ocean. However these “salinity raising” factors are continually counterbalanced by processes that decrease salinity such as the continuous input of fresh water from rivers, precipitation of rain and snow, and melting of ice.

Why is salinity important in the water cycle and in ocean circulation?

Approximately 80% of Earth’s surface freshwater fluxes occur over the ocean; its surface salinity responds to changing evaporation and precipitation patterns by displaying salty or fresh anomalies. Thus, ocean salinity measurements can provide insights into water-cycle operation and its long-term change.

What are some problems with the water cycle?

Climate change intensifies this cycle because as air temperatures increase, more water evaporates into the air. Warmer air can hold more water vapor, which can lead to more intense rainstorms, causing major problems like extreme flooding in coastal communities around the world.

How does salinity affect ocean circulation?

Since warmer water thus can hold more salt and other molecules than cold water; it can have a higher salinity. To relate this to ocean currents, the higher the salinity of ocean water, the more dense it becomes. When the salinity is high enough, the water will sink, starting a convection current.

Which condition would lower the salinity of ocean water?

rain, snow, melting ice, and fresh water from rivers lower the salinity of ocean water. Evaporation and the freezing of surface water increase salinity.

What are the factors affecting the salinity of seawater?

The factors affecting the amount of salt in different oceans seas are called controlling factors of oceanic salinity. Evaporation, precipitation, the influx of river water, prevailing winds, ocean currents and sea waves are significant controlling factors. 1.

What happens when the water cycle is disrupted?

The water cycle brings water to everywhere on land, and is the reason that we have rain, snow, streams, and all other kinds of precipitation. Stopping it would cause an endless drought. No water flow in lakes would cause overgrowth, killing many species of fish and other lake wildlife.

How do floods affect the water cycle?

Floods are a natural part of the water cycle, but they can be terrifying forces of destruction. Floods usually occur when precipitation falls more quickly than that water can be absorbed into the ground or carried away by rivers or streams. …

What are the effects of salinity on water?

Salts are less likely to be leached from the soil in low rainfall areas and therefore poor quality irrigation water with high levels of salts will have a greater impact on the soil. Excessive amounts of water applied by irrigation may move past the root zone and contribute to rising water tables.

Why does the salinity of seawater remain constant?

why does the salinity of seawater remain relatively constant over time? because the ocean is well mixed so the relative concentrations of the major components in sea water are essentially constant. It can get very deep and cold at the bottom and nutrients can get trapped at the bottom.

What causes the salinity of ocean water to decrease quizlet?

What are the controlling factors of salinity?

Controlling Factors of Salinity:

• (1) Evaporation:
• (2) Precipitation is inversely related to salinity e.g., higher the precipitation, lower the salinity and vice versa.
• (3) Influx of river water:
• (4) Atmospheric pressure and wind direction:
• (5) Circulation of oceanic water:

What can Ocean Salinity measurements tell us about the water cycle?

The salinity field integrates sporadic surface fluxes over time, and after accounting for ocean circulation and mixing, salinity changes resulting from long-term alterations to surface evaporation and precipitation are evident. Thus, ocean salinity measurements can provide insights into water-cycle operation…

How does ocean surface salinity affect ocean dynamics?

Since 86% of global evaporation and 78% of global precipitation occur over the ocean, ocean surface salinity is the key variable for understanding how fresh water input and output affects ocean dynamics.

How do we measure global sea surface salinity?

The NASA Aquarius instrument aboard Argentina’s SAC-D satellite is designed to measure global sea surface salinity. This movie shows salinity patterns as measured by Aquarius from December 2011 through December 2012. Red colors represent areas of high salinity, while blue shades represent areas of low salinity.

Why do high salinity levels occur in high latitudes?

High concentrations are also in sub-tropical regions due to high rates of evaporation (clear skies, little rain, and prevailing winds) and in landlocked seas in arid regions. At high latitudes, salinity is low.