How does the salinity in ocean water cause it to form layers?
Layers of seawater with different densities can lead to stratification that can last for centuries. Anyone who has gone into the ocean and felt distinct layers of cold meeting the warm water has experienced the effect of stratification. Temperature and salinity are the two key factors determining density and, thus, ocean stratification. High salinity makes the water denser than low salinity, and cold water is denser than warm water. The denser the water relative to the water around it, the lower that water sinks. In this experiment you will examine how salinity affects stratification. You will make two saltwater solutions of different salinity concentrations: a 40 percent salinity solution and a 20 percent salinity solution. To visually…
