★ Must-know
The oceans cover 71% of Earth's surface.
The ocean's average salinity is about 34.5 g/kg.
Further detail
The ocean has an average depth of 3,700 m.
The ocean's average temperature is about 3.0 °C.
1. Approximately what fraction of Earth's surface is covered by the oceans?
2. What is the ocean's average salinity?
3. A warm, dry spell increases evaporation over a patch of ocean, with no change in freshwater inputs. What happens to its surface salinity?
What percentage of Earth's surface do the oceans cover?
71%.
What is the ocean's average salinity?
About 34.5 g/kg.
What causes surface salinity to rise through evaporation?
Evaporation removes freshwater and concentrates dissolved salts.
What freshwater additions lower surface salinity?
Precipitation, river discharge, and melting ice.
Through which pathways do dissolved elements enter the ocean?
Continental waters, volcanoes, and hydrothermalism.
Which dissolved elements have different oceanic origins?
Sodium and chlorine.
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