Ocean Properties PDF

Ocean Properties  1. Temperature Decreases with depth ○ Energy from the sun can only penetrate the surface of the oceans  General water properties High heat capacity → it holds heat much longer than land does ○ Oceans cool more slowly than land do...

Ocean Properties  1. Temperature Decreases with depth ○ Energy from the sun can only penetrate the surface of the oceans  General water properties High heat capacity → it holds heat much longer than land does ○ Oceans cool more slowly than land does ○ Important with transfer of heat on Earth High specific heat → it takes a lot of energy to heat up water ○ Ocean takes longer to heat up than land does ○ 4.184 J/g*C ○ This means that it takes 4.184 Joules of energy to raise 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius  How do specific heat and heat capacity affect both of these climate characteristics? Climate Impacts Coastal regions Inland regions Water moderates temperatures Lacks the amount of water nearby (smaller temperature range) to help moderate temperatures Have a high amount of water Have a low amount of water vapor vapor in the air in the air Summers are cooler Summers are warmer Winters are warmer Winters are colder 2. Salinity Increases with depth Ocean salinity averages ~ 3.5% ○ The other 96(ish)% is pure water ○ It isn’t the same everywhere! Range: 3.4-3.7% **at the surface Salinity changes! Precipitation River runoff Decreases salinity Ice/glacial melt Evaporation Increases salinity 3. Density Increases with depth Determined by temperature and salinity ○ Decrease in temp = INCREASE in density ○ Decrease in salinity = DECREASE in density LOW temperature + HIGH salinity = HIGHEST density Ocean properties