EARTH SCIENCE
OCEANS
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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the flowing of a river into the ocean
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the melting of sea ice
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high rates of evaporation and low ratesof precipitation
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None of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -Evaporation of ocean water and formation of sea ice both increase the salinity of the ocean.
Detailed explanation-2: -Salt in the ocean comes from two sources: runoff from the land and openings in the seafloor. Rocks on land are the major source of salts dissolved in seawater. Rainwater that falls on land is slightly acidic, so it erodes rocks.
Detailed explanation-3: -“Evaporation takes freshwater from the ocean into the atmosphere and increases the ocean salinity; precipitation puts freshwater into the ocean and reduces its salinity.
Detailed explanation-4: -Evaporation increases the salinity of seawater because when seawater evaporates, the salts are left behind, thus increasing their concentration. Precipitation and river input decrease salinity because the input of freshwater dilutes the salts in seawater, thus decreasing their concentration.