1. Properties of Ocean Water
Chapter 20 Section 1
Properties of Ocean Water

2. 1
Water in the ocean
contains many dissolved solids and gases.

3. 2 Scientists do NOT describe ocean water by using properties such as
presence of dissolved vitamins and dissolved minerals.

4. 3 Why do scientists study the properties of ocean water?
To understand the interactions between the:
ocean
atmosphere
land

5. 4
The two principal gases in the atmosphere are
nitrogen and oxygen.

6. 5
Ocean water contains a large amount of dissolved
carbon dioxide.

7. 6 Most oxygen in the ocean
enters at the surface of the ocean from the atmosphere.

8. 14
The dissolved solids that give the ocean its salty taste are commonly called
sea salts.

9. 15
Solids dissolved in ocean water are composed of about how many chemical elements? 75

10. 16
The most common salt, halite, which makes up more than 85% of the ocean solids, is made of
sodium and chloride ions.

11. 17
Elements that exist in very small amounts are called _______ _________.
trace elements

12. 18 What are three examples of trace elements found in the ocean? gold
zinc
phosphorous

13. 19
What are the three main sources of the elements that form sea salts?
volcanic eruptions
chemical weathering of rock and land
chemical reactions between sea water and newly formed sea-floor rocks

14. 20 How do dissolved salts and other dissolved solids enter the ocean?
Rivers
Carry about 400 billion kg of dissolved solids
Evaporation
Salts and other minerals remain

15. 30
Why does the temperature of the zone of surface water decrease only slightly as the depth increases?
The mixing of the ocean’s surface water distributes heat downwards keeping the temperature of surface water constant.

16. 31
What happens to the temperature of surface water as latitude increases?
Temperature decreases
it gets colder dude

17. 32
Where does the greatest amount of solar energy reach the surface of the ocean?
The Equator

18. 33 What is the common temperature at the surface in tropical areas?
30oC

19. 34
Why do vast amount of sea ice exist in polar oceans? Explain your answer.
The temperature of ocean water is -2oC
It freezes at about -2oC

20. 35
A floating layer of sea ice that completely covers an area of the ocean surface is called ________.
pack ice.

21. 36 Why is pack ice rarely more than 5m thick?
Ice insulates water below and keeps it from freezing.

22. 37
What determines changes in ocean surface temperature in the middle latitudes?
Seasons

23. 38
Why does the temperature of the water decrease sharply below the surface layer of the ocean?
The sun can’t directly heat ocean water below the surface layer.

24. 39
The layer in a body of water in which water temperature drops with increased depth faster than it does in other layers is called a
thermocline.