Why is the ocean water layered?
Reading: Chapter 6, 137-151, Ch. 7, pg. 162-176. Today we will look at how the ocean water is structured, and some of the important physical characteristics of sea water. Specifically the term THERMOHALINE Circulation is introduced. 1. What is ocean water made of? The salt in the sea is actually made up of several types of major ions dissolved in the water. We taste salt (sodium chloride) because there is an overwhelming amount of sodium and chloride in the water, but other important major ions are in there, too. They fall into 2 categories-the cations (+ charge), and the anions (- charge). In order of residence time from longest to shortest Cations Anions Sodium Chloride Magnesium Sulfate Potassium Carbonate & Bicarbonate Calcium 2. The supply of these major ions is predominantly from rock, reaching the sea by way of erosion, river water, volcanic activity, groundwater, and hydrothermal vents. The interesting part is that most of them are used for specific purposes, and so most major
