How do salinity and temperature affect density of sea water?
As water gets colder and approaches its freezing point, it gets denser as the water molecules slow down and pack more closely together. [However, when it freezes, it is less dense because of the crystal structure of ice.] As the salinity of water increases, the water also becomes denser, due to the additional amount of ions dissolved in the water. So, warm water in a place where it rains a lot (like the equator) is less dense than cold water in a place with lots of evaporation (like the mid-latitudes). 15. Describe the range of temperature and salinity in the ocean. The average salinity in the ocean is 35‰. The salinity in the open ocean varies from about 33 to 37‰, depending mostly on the balance between precipitation and evaporation. Temperature in the open ocean varies between –2°C and 30°C (28 to 86°F). Temperatures below 0°C (32°F) are possible because salt water freezes at a colder temperature than pure water. 16. Describe how temperature data are collected in the ocean. There ar
