The average of total amount of salt dissolved in the ocean (salinity) is approximately 35ppt. This means that there is roughly 35 grams of salt in every 1000 grams of seawater. Salinity is not constant throughout the water column. Salinity of the top layer of the ocean is closely linked with precipitation and evaporation. Evaporation leaves behind dissolved salts increasing salinity, while precipitation "freshens" the top ocean layers (reducing salinity).
The ocean's saline environment has quite an effect on life in the oceans -- most creatures that live in the ocean could not live in fresh water. However, when the highly saline waters of the ocean meet fresh water, an estuary is formed. This is a special environment where some creatures have adapted to a mixture of fresh and salt water. The alteration of fresh water systems, ground waters, or soils by human actions that cause an increase in the salinity of these areas, can have a devastating effect on the organisms within the affected ecosystems. Changes in salinity brought about by human residential, commercial and industrial activity can kill plant life, aquatic life, and animal life in a given area.
The ocean's saline environment has quite an effect on life in the oceans -- most creatures that live in the ocean could not live in fresh water. However, when the highly saline waters of the ocean meet fresh water, an estuary is formed. This is a special environment where some creatures have adapted to a mixture of fresh and salt water. The alteration of fresh water systems, ground waters, or soils by human actions that cause an increase in the salinity of these areas, can have a devastating effect on the organisms within the affected ecosystems. Changes in salinity brought about by human residential, commercial and industrial activity can kill plant life, aquatic life, and animal life in a given area.
Students learning to measure salinity and become familiar with the equipment.
The graph to the left shows the salinity measurements from 10 Bay of Islands sites in the years 2005 & 2006.
The data used to generate the graph was collected in the Fall season of 2005 & 2006.
A copy of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing the data used to generate the graph may be downloaded here.
The data used to generate the graph was collected in the Fall season of 2005 & 2006.
A copy of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet containing the data used to generate the graph may be downloaded here.
Environmental Education - Science & Research - Community Engagement
Initiative Supported By
ACAP Humber Arm Environmental Association Inc.
P.O. Box 564, Corner Brook, NL, Canada, A2H 6E6
P.O. Box 564, Corner Brook, NL, Canada, A2H 6E6