Ocean water is a complex solution made up of 96.5% water along with dissolved gases, solids, and tiny organisms. It contains around 75 different chemicals, with the six most abundant being chlorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and potassium. Salinity increases with evaporation rate and depth, and the relative amounts of dissolved solids remains constant globally due to ocean mixing. Surface water absorbs infrared sunlight, decreasing in temperature with increasing depth due to formation of a thermocline where warm and cold water do not easily mix.

1. Properties of Ocean Water
Mr. Silva
Ag Earth Science

2. Properties of Ocean Water
• Ocean water is a complex solution of
dissolved gases and solids, small particles
and tiny organisms that sustains a variety
of plants and animal life.
• Ocean water is only 96.5 % pure water.

3. Properties of Ocean Water
• There are about 75 different chemicals in
the ocean.
• The 6 most abundant
– Chlorine
– Sodium
– Magnesium
– Sulfur
– Calcium
– Potassium

4. Properties of Ocean Water
• 1. Salinity of Ocean Water
a. Salt (sodium chloride) makes up 78 % of the
ocean’s solids
b. Salinity: The amount of dissolved solids in
ocean water as the form of salt

5. Properties of Ocean Water
– c. Salinity increases with evaporation rate
and depth
i. Tropical waters have a higher salinity than polar
waters
ii. Surface waters have a higher salinity than
greater depths
– d. The relative amounts of dissolved
solids in the ocean is constant (although
specific locations may differ) due to a
continuous mixing of all parts of the ocean

6. Properties of Ocean Water
• 2. Temperature of Ocean Water
– a. Ocean water absorbs infrared
wavelengths of sunlight
– b. Surface Temperature
i. Infrared waves are completely absorbed in the
surface layer of water
• Constant mixing distributes the heat downward
• Ocean water temperature decreases with
increasing depth

7. Properties of Ocean Water
• c. Just below surface water, the
temperature drops sharply
i. Warm water cannot mix easily with cold,
denser water
ii. Thermocline: the zone of rapid temperature
change