◦ 70-71% of earth’s crust covered by ocean water ◦ 4 major oceans pacific – largest and...

Earth’s Oceans

◦70-71% of Earth’s crust covered by ocean water

◦4 Major OceansPacific – largest and deepestAtlantic- little larger than the Indian

Indian – same depth as Atlantic, but smaller

Arctic – smallest and shallowest

World’s Oceans

How is the ocean the largest source of fresh water?

Water Cycle

◦Ocean water: a mixture of dissolved gases and solids in pure water

◦ Contains 85 of 90 naturally existing elements

◦96.5% pure water; 3.5% dissolved minerals

Properties of Ocean Water

◦Salinity – amount of dissolved salts in ocean waterexpressed in ppt (parts per thousand)

# of grams of salts dissolved in 1 kg of ocean water


◦Sources of minerals - (NaCl the most common)Volcanic activityErosion from land (upstream)Waves breaking on the land


Precipitation, runoff, and melting sea ice and icebergs - result in lower salinity

Formation of sea-ice and evaporation – result in higher salinity

Salinity is usually the same; differences result from

N, CO2, and O Amount varies with depth – cold water holds more gases

Oxygen/ CO2 cycle between plants and animals same as on land

Most abundant gases in ocean water

◦ 70-71% of earth’s crust covered by ocean water ◦ 4 major oceans pacific – largest and...

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