What are the 3 factors that affect the density of ocean water?

Of the three factors—temperature, salinity, and pressure—that have an effect on water density, temperature changes have the greatest effect. In the ocean, the thermocline (a water layer within which temperature decreases rapidly with depth) acts as a density barrier to vertical circulation.

What are the 2 main factors that affect the density of sea water?

Key Concepts: There are two main factors that make ocean water more or less dense: temperature and salinity. Cold, salty water is denser than warm, fresher water and will sink below the less dense layer. Density is defined as the measure of a material’s mass (e.g. grams) divided by its volume (e.g. milliliters).

What does seawater density depend on?

Density depends on heat content and salinity. Since seawater is not perfectly incompressible, it also varies slightly with pressure.

What is caused by differences in ocean water density?

In contrast to wind-driven surface currents, deep-ocean currents are caused by differences in water density. The process that creates deep currents is called thermohaline circulation—“thermo” referring to temperature and “haline” to saltiness. These currents circulate around the globe in a thousand-year cycle.

What are factors affect the density of ocean water?

Salinity of Ocean water Affects Ocean Water Density | UPSC – IAS Seawater density varies with temperature, degree of salinity, and depth. Surface layers of seawater tend to contract and sink in cold regions, whereas in warmer areas deeper waters tend to rise to the surface. Surface currents also affect this situation, particularly by producing an upwelling of colder, denser water in some localities.

What is caused by the differences in density in ocean water?

Currents may also be caused by density differences in water masses due to temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) variations via a process known as thermohaline circulation. These currents move water masses through the deep ocean-taking nutrients, oxygen, and heat with them.

What is the densest part of ocean water?

The densest water in the ocean is known as the Antarctic Bottom Water. It is formed along the Antarctic ice shelves where water freezes on the ocean’s surface. The Antarctic Bottom Water plays a big role in the global circulation of ocean waters around the world. This dense water is carried along the ocean floor, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the deepest parts of oceans.

What kind of seawater is densest?

In this manner, very dense seawater that is both cold and of elevated salinity is formed. Such areas as the Weddell Sea in Antarctica produce the densest water of the oceans. This water, known as Antarctic Bottom Water, sinks to the deepest depths of the oceans.