Examination and evaluation of real-time oceanographic data on the internet
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and OCEAN BASINS |
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ATMOSPHERE DYNAMICS |
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Introduction to Questions on Ocean Salinity:
- The questions are outlined in three tables (this page, next page . last page )
- they require examination of various maps of ocean salinity variations
- annual average global ocean salinities.
- salinity of the deep ocean
- latitudinal variations in ocean salinity
- regional influences on ocean salinity
- temporal variation in ocean salinity
- Reminder: you should submit your answers via oncourse .
| Ocean Salinity | pt | |||||||
| Global Surface Salinity (Annual Average) | ||||||||
| The Levitus atlas of oceanographic physical
and chemical is accessable online. The instructions for use of the atlas are provided on separate webpage ( Atlas Guidelines ), which makes specific suggestions about the default settings to chose to view ocean salinities. The guidelines for the display below help to set the parameters for each figure, with the box numbers referring to the sites on the display. Q. 1-11 use the ANNUAL maps. |
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| 1. | What are the approximate surface salinities of the following
locations within the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and in marginal basins?
Estimate the temperature from the color scale, aided by the contour scale.
(Resetting the color scale - boxes #6 and #7 - to display 28‰ to 42‰ helps to provide better color contrasts) |
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box (in
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| Latitude transect of Atlantic Ocean | ||||||||
| (i) | 60°N, 30°N, 0°, 30°S, 60°S at 30°W |
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90°N | 80°S | 80°W | 20°E | 5 | |
| Latitude transect of Pacific Ocean | ||||||||
| (ii) | 55°N, 30°N, 0° at 180° |
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90°N | 80°S | 120°E | 70°W |
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| (iii) | 30°S, 60°S at 120°W |
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90°N | 80°S | 120°E | 70°W | 2 | |
| Mediterranean Sea | ||||||||
| (iv) | 35°N at 30°E |
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50°N | 20°N | 20°W | 50°E |
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| 2. | Describe the latitudinal changes in surface salinity within the Atlantic Ocean from Q.1(i). HINT | 2 | ||||||
| 3. | Describe the latitudinal changes in surface salinity within the Pacific Ocean from Q.1(ii) and (iii). HINT |
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| 4. | How are the influences of the global factors that affect ocean salinity apparent in the latitudinal variation of salinity within the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans? HINT |
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| 5. | Why are surface salinities elevated in the Mediterranean? HINT |
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| 6. | In the map of the surface salinity of the Atlantic Ocean from Q.1(i): | |||||||
| (i) | Identify a region (give latitude and longitude) where the surface salinity is enhanced by a local effect and explain the cause of the salinity increase. HINT | 2 | ||||||
| (ii) | Identify a region (give latitude and longitude) where the surface salinity is decreased by a local effect and explain the cause of the salinity decrease. HINT |
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| 7. | Compare the surface salinity of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Is one Ocean significantly saltier than the other and if so why? (Bonus) HINT | 2* | ||||||
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Department of Geological Sciences,
1001 E. Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-1403
Phone: (812) 855-5582 Last updated: 22 October 2002
Comments: simon@indiana.edu
Copyright 2000, The Trustees of Indiana University