Why Is Ocean Water Salty? Fun Facts You Didn’t Know?
Explanation
The mildly acidic rainwater flows over rocks and causes them to break down as time passes, releasing minerals into the ocean. These minerals, such as chloride (Na) and chloride (Cl), are lost in streams and rivers and eventually end up in the sea. Chloride and sodium combine to create salt (NaCl), the primary element in ocean water's salinity.
Ocean Coverage
Oceans encompass 70% of Earth's surface. They comprise 97% of the earth's salt content. 3.5 percent of ocean water contains dissolving salts, accounting for around 220 million tons per cubic mile of seawater.
Sources of Salt
Salt runoff from land is a significant source of salt in the ocean. Rainwater accumulates carbon dioxide, turning somewhat acidic. This acidic water damages rocks, taking in salt and other minerals. Rivers transport the salt to oceans but leave the salt in its place.
- Underwater volcanic eruptions are also contributing to the saltiness of the ocean. Volcanoes release minerals such as sodium, chlorine, as well as other salts, to the sea. These minerals increase the salt content of the water.
- As the sun warms the ocean's surface, water evaporates into the atmosphere as water vapor. However, the salt does not evaporate and remains on the water's surface, slowly increasing the amount of salt within the ocean. This helps to maintain the saltiness of the sea.
- Unlike rivers and lakes, the sea does not have a solution to eliminate salt quickly. When water evaporates, salt remains behind. since rain and rivers and rain continuously replenish the ocean, salt builds up over time, giving the sea its distinctive salinity
- Alongside streams and rivers, the seafloor releases minerals and salts via hydrothermal vents. These vents release hot water, which is rich in minerals. This further enhances the salinity and aeration of the ocean.
- The ocean's salt is essential for the aquatic ecosystems.
Hydrothermal Vents
Ocean water seeps in through fractures of the seafloor. The waters are heated due to magma from the Earth's core. Chemical reactions result in the water losing sulfur, oxygen, and magnesium as it absorbs metals such as zinc, iron, and copper. This heated water then flows and re-enters the ocean enriched with salt.
- Oceans make up 70% of the Earth's surface.
- About 3.5 percent of ocean salt is in the ocean.
- Rainwater is able to erode rock and also absorbs salt
- Hydrothermal vents add salt into the sea.
- Chloride and sodium constitute 85 percent of ocean salt.
Breaking Down Rocks and Releasing Salts
As the rocks break down as they break down, they release dissolved particles (charged particles) into the water. These ions include Sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl-), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), and Potassium (K+) Sulfate (SO42-). After these minerals and salts dissolve into water, streams, and rivers, they transfer from the land to the oceans. This has been taking place for millions of years, and even though each river transports only a small amount of dissolved salts, the cumulative effect is massive. As the dissolved minerals reach the sea, they stay there because water can evaporate, but the salts remain at the back. Over long periods, the constant movement of minerals has created salty oceans.
Why Not Lakes and Rivers
The rivers and lakes receive an ongoing freshwater flow through precipitation, snowmelt, and runoff from the land. The freshwater can dilute any salt present, thus preventing the water from turning salty. Contrary to seawater, a limited flow of freshwater (except for rain), the lakes and rivers are continually replenished with freshwater, which keeps their salinity to a minimum.
Conclusion
Salted ocean water supports aquatic life and Earth's ecosystem. We must protect it from pollution.
