OCEAN 210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Downwelling, Potential Density, Mixed Layer
Document Summary
All diagrams taken from "ocn210_topic2_lect3. ppt" on the course canvas website or created by me. Importance of density: comparing two fluids; less dense on top of more dense. In the second the more dense is on top, causing it to sink and the two liquids to mix together-shown in the third column: higher density contrast means the system is more stable. Seawater density dependence on salinity and temperature: molecules occupy a larger volume when they are heated up, since they have the same mass, their density will decrease, salt water is more dense r = density of seawater, approx. 1000 kg/m3: 1020 kg/m3 - 1040 kg/m3 depending on temperature and salinity, s = r - 1000 kg/m3, only last two digits are used when discussing density, no effect from pressure: "potential density" Surface salinity: saltiest at subtropical latitudes (more dense, least salty in the arctic ocean (less dense, primarily a result of evaporation and precipitation; changes when amount of water changes.
