Are deep ocean currents affected by salinity?
However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface. These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline circulation.
How do we measure deep ocean currents?
The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler is commonly used to measure currents. It is normally deployed on the seafloor or attached to the bottom of a boat. It sends an acoustic signal into the water column and that sound bounces off particles in the water.
How do ocean currents affect salinity?
When the water molecules of the ocean become heated, they expand. 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.
What is the salinity of deep water?
Deep ocean water makes up about 90% of the volume of the oceans. Deep ocean water has a very uniform temperature, around 0-3 °C, and a salinity of about 3.5% or, as oceanographers state, 35 ppt (parts per thousand).
Does salinity increase with depth?
Salinity changes with depth, but the way it changes depends upon the location of the sea. The lower salinity water rests above the higher salinity dense water. Salinity, generally, increases with depth and there is a distinct zone called the halocline (compare this with thermocline), where salinity increases sharply.
Which condition would cause an increase in the salinity of ocean water?
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.
What are the two ocean currents called?
Two major kinds of currents define the planet’s oceans: surface currents driven by wind and deep-water currents driven by variations in seawater density.
Is salinity higher in deep water?
The salinities found at the greater depths of the open oceans are quite uniform in both time and space with average values of 34.5 to 35 psu. These salinities are determined by surface processes such as those described above when the water, now at depth, was last in contact with the surface.
How are winds and salinity related to ocean currents?
Winds drive ocean currents in the upper 100 meters of the ocean’s surface. However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface. These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature ( thermo) and salinity ( haline ). This process is known as thermohaline circulation.
What do you need to know about the salinity meter?
Traceable® pens for conductivity, dissolved solids, and salinity provides for conductivity, conductivity/total dissolved solids and salinity. Meters fulfill requirements for CAP, ASTM, NCCLS, CLSI, ACS, CLIA, AOAC, EPA, APHA, AWWA, WEF, USGS, USP, ISO and Federal/State regulations. Waterproof…
What is the salinity of the North Atlantic Ocean?
not present Water Mass Temp () Salinity North Atlantic Central Water 8-19 35.1-36.5 Antarctic Circumpolar Water 0-2 34.6-34.7 Antarctic Intermediate Water 3-7 33.8-34.7 North Pacific Intermediate Water 4-10 34.0-34.5
How are deep ocean currents related to thermohaline circulation?
Thermohaline Circulation. However, ocean currents also flow thousands of meters below the surface. These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature ( thermo) and salinity ( haline ). This process is known as thermohaline circulation.