Chapter 15 Notes   (Ocean Water)

Chapter 15.1  Properties of ocean water

Chemical properties of ocean water

    Salinity means the amount of salt in the ocean water.  The average is 34.5g/kg  (34.5    grams of salt per kilogram of water)

Physical properties of ocean water

    Temperature  -   warm surface waters
                              thermocline (a zone of rapidly changing temperatures)
                              cool, deep waters

    Density  -  ocean water is more dense than fresh water.   Higher salinity and cooler temperature will make ocean water denser.

   Pressure  -  nearer the bottom the pressure is greater than the pressure near the surface