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Topic : Oceanography

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Reliefs and the ocean basins

Ocean temperature and density of ocean water

Ocean salinity

Ocean currents

Corals

EL – Nino and La Nino

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 Ocean Temperature

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• The temperature of ocean water varies from place to place both at the surface and
at great depths.
• Water warms up and cools down much more slowly than the land; hence
the annual range of temperature in any part of the ocean is very much
smaller.
• daily range of temperature of surface water of the oceans is around 1° C or
less than 1 .
• The diurnal range depends on the conditions of sky, Stability or instability of
air and stratification of sea water.

• The temperature of sea water also affects the climate of coastal lands and plants
and animals therein.
• The maximum and the minimum temperatures in oceans are slightly delayed than
those of land areas (the maximum being in August and the minimum in
February
ocean surface temperature is highest at 2 p.m. and lowest, at 5 a.m.

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The ocean water is ocean water is cooled
heated by

Absorption of sun’s radiation.

Back radiation (heat budget)

conventional currents Evaporation

Heat is produced due to friction Exchange of heat

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Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution of Oceans

Insolation

Unequal distribution of land and water

Prevailing wind

Ocean currents

The shape of the ocean

Local weather conditions such as cyclones

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• Latitude : the temperature of surface water decreases from the
equator towards the poles because the amount of insolation
decreases polewards

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 Unequal distribution of land and water :
• The temperature of ocean water varies in the northern and southern
hemispheres because of dominance of land in northern hemisphere and
water in southern hemisphere.
• The oceans in the northern hemisphere receive more heat due to their
contact with larger extent of land than the oceans in the southern
hemisphere.

40% water and 60% land

60% water and 40

land

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 Permanent /Prevailing wind : winds blowing from the land towards the
oceans drive warm surface water away form the coast resulting in the
upwelling of cold water from below. It results into the longitudinal variation in
the temperature. Contrary to this, the onshore winds pile up warm water near
the coast and this raises the temperature.

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 Ocean currents :warm ocean currents raise the temperature in
cold areas while the cold currents decrease the temperature in
warm ocean areas.

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• The enclosed seas in the low latitudes record relatively higher
temperature than the open seas : whereas the enclosed seas in
the high latitudes have lower temperature than the open seas.
• The temperature in the enclosed seas in low altitudes becomes
higher because of the surrounding land areas.

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Observations:
• Lowest temperatures of
the oceans – New
Scotland region
• Highest temperatures of
the oceans – Western
Pacific Ocean region
• Average annual
temperature of Pacific
Ocean is higher than
Atlantic Ocean and Indian
Ocean.
• In Atlantic Ocean,
Decrease of temperature
with increase in latitudes
is very low because of
warm ocean currents.

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Horizontal Temperature Distribution of Oceans
• The average temperature of surface water of the oceans is about 27°C
and it gradually decreases from the equator towards the poles.
• The highest temperature is not recorded at the equator but slightly
towards north of it
• The average temperature at 20° latitudes is 22° C, it is 14° C at 40°
latitudes and 0° C near the poles.
• The oceans in the northern hemisphere record relatively higher average
(19 ° C)temperature than in the southern hemisphere(16° C).
• The rate of decrease of temperature with increasing latitude is generally
0.5°C per latitude.
• The reduction of temperature with latitudes is also not constant, because
of interference by warm and cold currents, winds and air masses.
• The horizontal temperature distribution is shown by isothermal lines,
i.e., lines joining places of equal temperature.

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Vertical Temperature Distribution of
Oceans
• The temperature-depth profile for the ocean water
shows how the temperature decreases with the
increasing depth
• This boundary region, from where there is a rapid
decrease of temperature, is called the thermocline.
About 90 per cent of the total volume of water is found
below the thermocline in the deep ocean.
• The first layer represents the top layer of warm oceanic
water and it is about 500m thick with temperatures
ranging between 20° and 25° C.
• The second layer called the thermocline layer lies
below the first layer and is characterized by rapid
decrease in temperature with increasing depth. The
thermocline is 500 -1,000 m thick.
• The third layer is very cold and extends up to the deep
ocean floor. Here the temperature becomes almost
stagnant.
• The rate of decrease of temperature with depths
is greater at [Link]
the equator than at the poles. info@[Link]
 The Prayas India – Learn | Practice |
Q . Which of the following factors affect the distribution of
temperature of ocean water?
1. Latitude
2. Prevailing winds
3. Unequal distribution of land and water
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 only

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 DENSITY OF OCEAN

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• Density refers to the amount of mass per unit volume of substance
and it is generally measured in g/cm3.
• Since the salt water has some dissolved substances in it, its density
is slightly higher than pure water.
• The average salinity of sea water is 1.0278 g/cm3 which is 2-3%
higher than density of pure water (1.00 g/cm3) at 4° C temperature.
• The density of sea water gradually increases with decreasing
temperature and highest density is recorded at the temperature of -
1.3° C.
• The density determines the dynamics of ocean water.

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CONTROLLING FACTORS OF DENSITY OF SEA WATER
 Temperature :
• Temperature and density of sea water are inversely related.
• Since, there is less variation in temperature of sea water in polar areas, and
hence the role of temperature as controlling factor of sea water density is
minimised.
 Pressure :
• Pressure is directly positively related to ocean water through its compressive
effects, seawater density increases with increasing pressure and vice versa.
• The pressure is considered as minor factor of seawater density.
 Salinity
• Salinity is directly positively related to seawater density.
• On an average, seawater density increases with increasing salinity and vice
versa.

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Topic : Ocean Salinity

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Introduction :
• .Salinity is defined as ‘the total amount of solid material in grams
contained in 1 kg of sea water and is expressed in parts per
thousand’.
• Salinity is also defined as the ratio between weight of the dissolved
materials and the weight of the sample sea water.
• It is calculated as the amount of salt (in gm) dissolved in 1,000 gm
(1 kg) of seawater. It is usually expressed as parts per thousand
(o/oo):Salinity
FACT or ppt. water properties
1. More saline water freezes slower than lesser saline water.
2. Salinity increases the density of sea water.
3. Variation in salinity causes ocean currents.

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COMPOSITION OF SEAWATER

• Sea water contains a complex solution of several mineral substances in

dilute form, as it is active solvent.
• The average salinity varies 33% – 37% in different oceans and seas .

SALTS PERCENTAGE (%)

1. Sodium Chloride 77.8
2. Magnesium Chloride
10.9
3. Magnesium Sulphate 4.7
4. Calcium Sulphate 3.6
5. Potassium Sulphate 2.5
6. Calcium Carbonate 0.3
7. Magnesium Bromide 0.2

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Factors Affecting Salinity Distribution of Oceans

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Temperature & Rate of evaporation

Rainfall
Supply of fresh water (river and
iceberg )
Wind by transferring water to other
areas.
Ocean current

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 There is a direct positive relationship between salinity and
evaporation. That is, greater the evaporation, higher the salinity and
vice versa.
 Evaporation due to high temperature with low humidity (dry
condition) causes more concentration of salt and overall salinity
becomes higher.

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Wind
direction
 Winds also help in redistribution
of salt in the oceans and the
seas (winds drive away saline
water to lesser saline areas).
 E.g. Salinity in Gulf of Mexico
(East coast) – 36-37% and
Salinity in Gulf of California
(West coast) – 34%.

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DISTRIBUTION OF
Horizontal

SALINITY
distribution
Vertical
distribution

• The average salinity in the oceans and the seas is 35%, but is
spatially and temporarily varies in different oceans, seas and lakes.

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 Horizontal distribution of salinity(Latitudinal

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distribution):

 Equatorial area – higher temperature – low pressure – rainfall higher

than Rate of evaporation – salinity 34 to 35 .
 Tropical region (20° – 40° N) - higher temperature - Rate of
evaporation high – higher pressure - lower rain - salinity 36 to 37.
 sub tropical region (40°- 60° ) -- low temperature – low pressure -- –
frontal rainfall higher than Rate of evaporation – salinity 32to 34
 Polar region – low temperature -- Rate of evaporation negligible –
polar melt supply of fresh water – salinity 32 to 33

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 Reasons
Average salinity 34 per
1. South hemisphere-
thousand Land region low – fresh
water supply low
2. South hemisphere –
Wind velocity higher --
Average salinity 35.5 per Rate of evaporation
thousand higher

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 Pacific Ocean

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• The salinity variation in the Pacific Ocean is mainly due to its shape
and larger areal extent.
• Salinity decreases from 35 o /oo - 31 o /oo on the western parts of
the northern hemisphere because of the influx of melted water from
the Arctic region.
• Low salinity is noted in front of river mouths (Yellow river – 30%)
• Salinity decreases in western Pacific Ocean (Okhotsk Sea – 31%)
because of influx of melt water brought by Oyashio current.

• In the same way, after 15° - 20° south, it decreases to 33 o /oo .

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 Atlantic Ocean

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• The average salinity of the Atlantic Ocean is around 36 o /oo.
• Highest salinity is recorded between 15°-20° latitudes
• Salinity is increasing from Equator towards the Tropics of Cancer
and Capricorn.
• Maximum salinity of 37% in the southern Atlantic is found in a
region by 20° N and 30° N latitudes and it gradually decreases
southward.
• Comparatively, low salinity is found in front of River mouths
(Amazon, Niger, Rhine, St. Lawrence).
• There are regional variations in salinity due to upwelling of water,
ocean currents, in flux of water or high evaporation.

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 Indian Ocean

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• The average salinity of the Indian Ocean is 35 o /oo.
• The low salinity trend is observed in the Bay of Bengal due to influx
of river water
• On the other hand, Arabian sea records higher salinity (36%) due to
higher rate of evaporation, less humid conditions and low influx of
freshwater.
• Partially enclosed seas records higher salinity (40% – interior of
Persian Gulf, Red sea records the highest salinity – 41% in some
parts because of low precipitation and very high evaporation)

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Inland seas and lakes distribution :salinity
• Salinity also varies from enclosed seas through partially opened seas
to open seas.
• Open seas : Average salinity 33 to 37 per thousand
• Partially open seas : Red sea ; 41
• fresh water influx by rivers : salinity 0 to 33
• Hot and dry regions :70 salinity
• the Great Salt Lake , (Utah, USA), the Dead Sea and the Lake
Van in Turkey is 220, 240 and 330 respectively.
• The Mediterranean Sea records higher salinity due to high
evaporation.
• Baltic Sea records low salinity due to influx of river waters in large
quantity.
• very low in Black Sea due to enormous fresh water influx by rivers.

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Vertical Distribution of
Salinity
• Salinity changes with depth, but the way it
changes depends upon the location of the
sea.
• increases with depth and there is a distinct
zone called the halocline (compare this with
thermocline), where salinity increases sharply.
• Salinity increases with increasing depth in
high latitudes.

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