A&O SCI 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Thermocline, Coriolis Force, Halocline
2 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
Temperature, salinity, and density = key variables describing the state of the ocean. Density : a function of both temperature and salinity. As water warms it expands and becomes less dense. Dissolved salts are heavier than water so, density increases with salinity. Vertical distribution of temperature, density, and salinity (global mean) Unlike the atmosphere, the ocean is heated from above therefore, the warmest temperatures are nearest the surface of the ocean. Average depth of the ocean = 4,000m. Temperature drops off very quickly around 100 m (a zone known as the thermocline. Because of influence of precipitation the freshest waters are also located nearest the surface. Salinity = measured in parts per thousand. Salinity increases rapidly around 100m depth (a zone known as the halocline ) Because warmer & fresher water is less dense this creates a very stable environment (with little vertical motion) Esp. true below the first 50-100m of ocean.
