GIVEN: salinity refers to the amount of salt in a liquid (usually water). salt water does not freeze into salt ice. SO: As the polar ice caps melt, they release fresh water into the ocean leaving less salt PPM (parts per million) in the water around the polar ice caps. BECAUSE: Since it takes time for the salinity to equalize through a mixture (the ocean), there will always be a lower concentration of salt in the waters around the polar ice caps when compared to areas of the ocean that are farther away and nearer the equator.
Red Sea and Persian Gulf are the areas with the highest salinity. Then the areas with lowest salinity would be the polar seas (or seas near to the polar tips), and sometimes some seas near a fresh body of water. For example, the South American area near Amazon River only has an average salinity of 28 o/oo. The Baltic Sea may have an average salinity of 5 o/oo. Hope this helps!!
European seas vary in salinity due to factors such as location, depth, and freshwater inflow. The Mediterranean Sea is among the saltiest, with salinity levels around 37-39 parts per thousand, influenced by high evaporation rates. In contrast, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea have lower salinity, ranging from 30 to 34 parts per thousand, due to significant river inflow and lower evaporation. Overall, salinity levels in European seas can differ widely depending on local environmental conditions.
The Caspian Sea has lower salinity than most seas primarily because it is an enclosed body of water with limited connection to the ocean, leading to high evaporation rates without significant salt input. Additionally, it receives considerable freshwater inflow from rivers, such as the Volga, which dilutes its salt concentration. These factors combined result in its unique brackish water, with salinity levels lower than typical oceanic salinity.
A palaeosalinity is the salinity of the seas in the geological past.
There are several factors that affect salinity. Some of the main factors include evaporation and precipitation which will affect the salinity of oceans and seas.
The world's oceans have a salinity of about 3.5%
No, the average salinity of ocean water is around 3.5%, but it can vary depending on location. Salinity levels in some seas and estuaries may be higher or lower than 3.5%.
Salinity is higher in areas with high evaporation rates, such as warm, arid regions and shallow seas like the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf. Additionally, salinity tends to increase at river mouths where seawater mixes with freshwater, especially in estuaries with limited water exchange. In polar regions, salinity can also be elevated beneath sea ice, where the surrounding water becomes saltier as ice forms.
Salinity levels in the tundra are generally low due to the cold climate and limited evaporation. Water sources in the tundra like lakes and ponds have lower salinity levels compared to oceans or seas. The frozen soil also acts as a barrier, limiting the movement of salts in the environment.
The Baltic Sea has lower salinity levels compared to other seas because it receives a large input of freshwater from rivers and precipitation, which dilutes the salt content. Additionally, limited water exchange with the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean hinders the replenishment of salts in the Baltic Sea, contributing to its lower salinity levels.
The Sperm Whale.
cold water