[neilep (OP)]

Dear Oceanologists,

D'ya like my ocean ?


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Nice eh ?...Being delivered Tuesday !

..But like a good subserviant waiter , the salesperson asked If I want extra salt with mine !!

LOl..." how ridiculous " I quipped and summarily got the salesperson fired. I subsequently discovered that my ocean is less salty near the equator !!..is this true ?  if so then why true ?

I think I owe "Hi I'm Geoff, I'll be your Ocean Seller Today " a new job !


Thanks


neil
Salt-In-Equatorial-Ocean Enquirer

[turnipsock]

I thought it would have been more salty at the equator. The icecaps are fresh water. There should be more evaporation from the equator, which would leave behind more salt.

[Madidus_Scientia]

Which would lead to more rain, which would dilute the salt

[neilep (OP)]

I thought it would have been more salty at the equator. The icecaps are fresh water. There should be more evaporation from the equator, which would leave behind more salt.

THANK YOU TURNIPSOCK.....yep ...seems reasonable to me and a rational deduced conclusion....thank you for these moot points !

[neilep (OP)]

Which would lead to more rain, which would dilute the salt

THANK YOU MADIDUS_SCIENTIA......hmmmm....yet another good point of merit and substance !..... Thank You very much

uh oh...this means I'me back where I started !! Perhaps I heard wrong and the salinity kind of equals itself out !

[Madidus_Scientia]

could it have anything to do with gravity, since gravity is weaker at the equator and salt water is more dense? or would that be too insignificant a force

[neilep (OP)]

could it have anything to do with gravity, since gravity is weaker at the equator and salt water is more dense? or would that be too insignificant a force

Another good point !! thanks Madidus_Scientia

I just don't know !!

Lets hope a passing Salt-In-Ocean expert dives in with the definitive answer !

[science_guy]

with the point of gravity being weaker at the equater, that would support that there is more salt at the equater.  because of the weaker force, that would mean salt settles at the bottom at a slower rate.

[Madidus_Scientia]

what i meant was would the denser salt water be more attracted by gravity towards the poles, displacing fresh water toward the equator

but anyway i reckon having more rain in the area from increased evaporation is the most plausable explanation

[JimBob]

OK, Lets sit down for the lessons, class.

Today we will talk about salinity variations within the ocean. This will be a gloss as the subject is a very complex one.

Now, since I am one very lazy person, I'll turn this discussion over to Steven Dutch, another geologist at The University of Wisconsin, USA. Dr. Dutch.

Ah, thank you? JimBob. It is Sunday and I wish to just sit here and drink another beer while watching the Stanly Cup Finals. Now bugger off all you and let me relax. I teach all week and you try to get me to teach on SUNDAY? How can you be so crass. Go to my website. It's all there.

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC102Notes/102TheOceans.HTM

[Madidus_Scientia]

it doesn't really say anything about why the ocean is less salty at the equator? or did i miss it

[JimBob]

Madidus,

My problem - I am still suffering from the toxins of invading E. coli running around my system - wish I could eat. Oh, well I can stand to looses the ten pounds I've lost to date and a bit, no, 3 stone, more.

Ocean currents are drive by salinity differences. The density variations due to dissolved solids are the motive force behind the currents. Thus, if at the equator, your salinity of the sea water will result in what ocean currents are present.

Surface oceanic currents are also influenced heavily by the wind. There are also layers within the ocean that are determined by salinity. Blue whales use the salinity interface at about 2000 feet to bounce communication around the world. 

Please send me a PM this weekend so I can address this in greater detail.

[Andrew K Fletcher]

[JimBob]

Thank you, Andrew.