The seas are in decreasing order of salinity in them. How salty is the Black Sea? How the indicators of salinity and water temperature change

Salinity is the amount of dissolved solid mineral substances (salts), expressed in grams, per 1 kg of sea water. The thousandth of the whole is called ppm and is indicated by% o. For example, if the salinity of ocean water is 35% o, then this means that 1 kg (1000 g) of this water contains 35% o (ppm) of dissolved substances.

Salinity is one of the main characteristics of sea water; its value expresses the degree of concentration of all substances dissolved in water (mainly salts).

The magnitude of salinity in a particular region of the World Ocean depends on a number of factors: on the influx of fresh water and the amount of precipitation, the rate of evaporation of water, the formation and melting of ice and the processes of water mixing.

During evaporation, the salinity of seawater increases, since salts remain in solution. When sea ice melts, salinity decreases because sea ice tends to have less salinity than
  the salinity of the surrounding waters.

With the formation of sea ice, salinity increases due to the fact that only part of the salts passes into ice.

What is the salinity of the oceans and its geographical distribution?

Salinity in different places, both on the surface and at the depths of the oceans and seas, is not the same. The average salinity of the oceans is 35% o.

In the open parts of the oceans, salinity varies little (from 32 to 37.9% o), in the seas it is much more - from 2 (in the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea) to 42% o (in the Red Sea).

The general pattern of changes in latitude salinity under the influence of precipitation and evaporation is typical for all oceans: salinity increases in the direction from the poles to the tropics, reaches a maximum value of about 20-25 ° north and south latitudes, and again decreases in the equatorial zone.

A uniform change in salinity in the surface layers is disrupted by the influence of oceanic and coastal currents and enrichment   fresh waters of large rivers. The highest salinity of the oceans (S \u003d 37.9%, excluding some seas, west of the Azores.

The salinity of the seas is the more different from the salinity of the ocean, the less the sea communicates with it; it also depends on their geographical location, in particular on climatic conditions. The salinity of the seas is greater than that of the oceans: the Mediterranean - in the west 37-38% 0, in the east - 38-39% 0;

The salinity of the Red Sea is 37% o in the south, and up to 42% o in the north, salinity 40% o in the Persian Gulf in the north, and 37 to 38% o in the eastern part.

Salinity: in the Azov Sea in the middle part from 10 to 12% o, and offshore - 9.5% o.

Water salinity in the Black Sea, in the middle part - from 10 to 12% o, and in the northwest - 17% o, with increasing sea depth, water salinity increases to 22% o;

in the Baltic Sea with eastern winds - 10% o, with western and southwestern - from 10 to 22% o; in the Gulf of Finland off the island of Kotlin - 2% 0; 34-34.5% o in the White Sea on the border with the Barents, 27-30% o in the Throat, and from 24 to 27% o in the middle.

In the Caspian Sea, salinity is 12.8% and in
  Aral Sea, the average salinity is 10.3% about.

The salinity of the Russian Arctic and Far Eastern seas in areas remote from the coast is 29-30% o.

With increasing depth, salinity changes only up to 1500 m, below this horizon and to the bottom it is insignificant and ranges from 34 to 35% o.

In the circumpolar regions, when the ice melts, the salinity increases with depth, and when ice forms, the salinity of the sea water decreases.

In temperate latitudes, the salinity of seawater varies little with depth, in the subtropical zone it decreases rapidly to a depth of SOO-1500 m, in the tropical zone it increases to a depth of 100 m, then it decreases to a depth of 500 m, after which it slightly increases to a depth of 1500 m, and lower remains unchanged.

What is the significance of salinity and density of sea water?

With decreasing temperature, the density of salty sea water increases, that is, in winter the sea is more saline than in summer! During autumn and winter cooling, water on the surface of the sea becomes denser, heavier.
  With further cooling, surface seawater, as denser and heavier, “sinks” and mixes with warmer and lighter deep water.

This feature of saltwater helps to mitigate the Earth’s climate. When cooled, 1 cc see sea water at 19C 3134 cu. see air is heated at 1 ° C.

The salinity of seawater enhances vertical circulation in the oceans and seas. Air receives much more heat (thermal energy) from the saline waters of the World Ocean than it would receive if the ocean waters were fresh.

The intensity of freezing of sea water and the development of ice phenomena in the seas and oceans depend on salinity.

The horizontal and vertical distribution of the density of sea water promotes horizontal and vertical circulation of water.

Knowing the vertical distribution of the density of sea water, you can determine the direction and speed of the currents, as well as the stability of a particular water mass: if the mass is unstable, then the denser water lies above the less dense, and the water will mix (vertical circulation).

The density of sea water is of great importance to the inhabitants of the ocean. The stability of the composition of water, which affects the distribution of organic and inorganic matter in the ocean, depends on it.

The density of water affects the draft. When passing from oceanic water to freshwater and vice versa, their draft can vary up to 0.3 m. Therefore, for the correct loading of ships in
  at ports and ensuring safety of navigation, it is necessary to know the value of salinity and density at the port of loading and at the transition to the sea to the port of destination and to take them correctly into account.

On Earth, there are nearly eighty seas. Some of them are part of the oceans. Many people know that all reservoirs of this type are salty. Not everyone knows about the concentration of alkalis in different seas. We offer to consider the most salty seas in the world. Before that, I would like to recall that the Baltic is the most fresh sea. The salt content in this pond is only 7 percent. It follows that one liter of water from the Baltic Sea accounts for only 7 grams of salts.

10 most saline lakes in the world

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Closes the Top 10 most salty seas on the planet Beloe. In some places, the salt content is 30%. However, this reservoir is considered one of the smallest in the Russian territory among the seas. The area is only 90 thousand square meters. In winter, the temperature reaches -1 degree. In the summer, the temperature rises to +15 degrees. In total, there are about 50 different species of fish in the sea. Among them should be noted salmon, cod and beluga whale. Smelt occasionally comes across.

The Chukchi Sea is one of the ten most saline seas in the world, with alkali composition reaching 33%. This unique pond is located between Alaska and Chukotka. Its area is 589 thousand square kilometers. It is worth noting that the water temperature in summer reaches a maximum of 12 degrees. Moreover, in winter, it can lower to -1.8 degrees. In addition to the fact that the Chukchi Sea is characterized by cold weather, it has a unique wildlife. Here walruses, seals and unique species of fish live. In particular, grayling, cod and Far Eastern navaga.

Do not forget about the reservoir that stretches between Novosibirsk and the islands of Severnaya Zemlya. We are talking about the Laptev Sea, whose area is 662 thousand square kilometers. Water salinity reaches 34%. In this case, the temperature never rises above 0 degrees. It should be noted that at the bottom of this sea is perch, sterlet and sturgeon. Walrus also lives in the sea. Every year on the open spaces of the sea hold surfing championships, due to the large waves.

In the territory of the Russian Federation no more dangerous reservoir can be found. Moreover, it belongs to the most saline seas on the planet. The area is 1.4 thousand square kilometers. In the cold season, the temperature varies from 10 to 12 degrees. In winter, it can reach -4 to -5 degrees. The underwater world deserves special attention. Here you can find capelin, perch, herring and even catfish. Also, from time to time, fishermen manage to catch the beluga and killer whale. Actually, the last animal is not only prey, but also a danger to many fishermen and sailors.

Closes the first top 5 most saline seas of Japan. It lies between the shores of the islands of Japan and Eurasia. It also covers part of Sakhalin. The average temperature for the year varies from 0 to 12 degrees. In the southern part, the temperature can drop to -26 degrees. This is a very cold pond, which also affects the diversity of the animal, underwater world. Most of the marine fauna is represented by anchovies and crabs. However, you can catch a lot of shrimp, oysters and herring. Actually, this is the reason for such a choice of seafood in Japanese cuisine.

In Greece, this reservoir is considered the most saline and at the same time dense. However, all over the world. This sea is perfect for people who are only on the way to learning how to swim. The sea literally holds to the surface. Due to the density in it, it is almost impossible to go to the bottom. In summer, the water temperature reaches 26 degrees above zero. In winter, it can drop to +14. Thus, we see that the inhabitants of the sea, including mackerel, flounder and tuna, have enough heat. However, as well as vacationers, which can be seen in the reservoir throughout the year.

38.5% salts

Another most salty sea in the world that reaches the coast of Greece. This time we are talking about a very concentrated alkali content. Experts recommend rinsing with fresh water after bathing in this water, since the epithelial layer of the skin can be damaged. Sodium, which focuses on the skin, can cause bleeding disorders and create cracks. As for the water temperature, it holds about 14 degrees even in winter. In summer it reaches +24 degrees. The sea has existed for more than 20 thousand years. Its area is 179 thousand square meters.

39.5% salts

Opens the top three in the area of \u200b\u200bthe most saline seas on Earth. It extends between Africa and Europe. It should be noted that this pond is also considered the warmest in the world, which is due to the following indicators. In winter, the minimum temperature reaches 12 degrees. In summer, it can exceed the range of +25 degrees. In total, about 500 species of fish live in the sea. They also include sharks. There are crabs, sea dogs and mussels. Special attention should be paid to the electric ramps, which are listed in the Red Book.

In our country, the most saline sea is considered Barents Sea.  The surface layers of this sea show salinity from 34.7% to 35%.

White Sea  also has a high percentage of salinity: 31% at depth and 26% at surface.

Kara Sea  characterized by high salinity up to 34%. However, in the Kara Sea it is extremely fragmented, and in some areas - in the estuaries, for example, the water can be almost fresh.

Chukchi Sea  and Laptevih sea  salinity of 33 and 28 percent, respectively.

Mediterranean Sea  is one of the most saline in the world. The salinity of this sea is 36-40%. The high salinity of the Mediterranean Sea limits the development of zoo and phytoplankton. However, high salinity does not interfere with representatives of the fauna, which are quite enough in this sea.

Legends and scientific facts about the salinity of the seas

Therefore, the most saline sea on Earth is considered Red seawhich has a salinity of 41%. The Red Sea has not only extremely high salinity of water, but also the level of salinity is distributed very evenly.

11.07.2007 15:00

The oceans represent a single integral natural body, which occupies 2/3 of the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe globe. The sea water of which it consists is the most abundant substance on the surface of the Earth. It differs from fresh water with a bitter-salty taste, specific gravity, transparency and color, a more aggressive effect on building materials and other properties. This is due to the content in sea water of more than 50 different components.

The total solids content in 1 kg of seawater and expressed in tenths of a percent (ppm ‰) is called salinity. Average salinity  sea \u200b\u200bwater on the surface of the ocean ranges from 32 to 37 ‰, in natural layers from 34 to 35 ‰. In some seas, there is a significant deviation from these averages. So, the salinity of the Black Sea is 17-18 ‰, the Caspian Sea is 12-13 ‰, and the Red Sea is up to 40 ‰. Theoretically, all known chemical elements are found in sea water, but their weight content is different.

Of the total amount of dissolved substances, 99.6% are halide salts of sodium, potassium, magnesium and magnesium and calcium sulfates, and only 0.4% of the salt composition is accounted for by the rest of the substances. The table shows that only 13 elements of the "periodic table" is contained in an amount of more than 0.1 mg / l. Even elements such as phosphorus, iodine, iron, together with calcium, sulfur, carbon, and some others, are contained in amounts less than 0.1 mg / l, which are important for many processes in the ocean (especially for the life of marine organisms). In seawater in the form of living matter and in the form of dissolved "inert" organic substances, organic substances are also contained, amounting to a total of about 2 mg / l.

The salt composition of sea water differs sharply from the salt composition of river water, but is close to the waters released during volcanic eruptions, or hot springs that receive food from the deep bowels of the Earth. River water also contains dissolved substances, the amount of which is very dependent on physical and geographical conditions.

The higher the evaporation value, the greater the salinity of the sea water., since evaporation remains salt. The change in salinity is greatly influenced by oceanic and coastal currents, the removal of fresh water by large rivers, the mixing of the waters of the oceans and seas. In depth, fluctuations in salinity occur only up to 1500 m, below salinity changes slightly.

The salty sea of \u200b\u200bthe oceans - Red. In 1 liter of its water contains 41 g of salts. On average, no more than 100 mm of atmospheric precipitation falls above the sea per year, while the amount of evaporation from its surface reaches 2000 mm per year. In the complete absence of river runoff, this creates a permanent deficit in the water balance of the sea, for the replenishment of which there is only one source - water from the Gulf of Aden. Over the course of the year, approximately 1,000 cubic meters are brought into the sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. km of water more than carried out of it. Moreover, according to calculations, for a complete exchange of the waters of the Red Sea only 15 years are needed.

In the Red Sea, water is very well and evenly mixed. In winter, surface water cools, becomes denser and falls down, and warm water rises from the depths. In summer, water evaporates from the surface of the sea, and the remaining water becomes more salty, heavy and falls down. In its place rises less salty water. Thus, all year the water in the sea is intensively mixed, and in all its volume the sea is the same in temperature and salinity, except in the depressions.

Detection hot brine troughs  in the Red Sea was a real scientific discovery of the 60s of the twentieth century. To date, more than 20 such depressions have been found in the deepest areas. The temperature of the brine is in the range of 30-60 ° C and rises by 0.3-0.7 ° C per year. This means that the troughs are heated from below by the internal heat of the Earth. Observers plunging into depressions on underwater vehicles said that the brines do not merge with the surrounding water, but clearly differ from it and look like muddy soil covered with ripples, or like a swirling fog. Chemical analyzes showed that the content in brines of many metals, including precious, is hundreds and thousands of times higher than in ordinary sea water.

The absence of coastal runoff (or, more simply, rivers and rainfall), and hence mud from land, provides fabulous transparency of water.   The water temperature is stable all year round - 20-25 ° C. All these factors determined the richness and uniqueness of marine life in the Red Sea.

The Dead Sea located in Western Asia in Israel and Jordan. It is located in a tectonic depression, formed as a result of the so-called Afro-Asian fault, which occurred in the era somewhere between the end of the Tertiary and the beginning of the Quaternary, that is, more than 2 million years ago.

The Dead Sea area is 1050 square meters. m, depth 350-400 meters. The only Jordan River flows into it, but nutrition is also due to numerous mineral springs. The sea has no way out, it is closed, therefore it is more correct to call it a lake.

The surface of the Dead Sea is 400 meters below sea level (the lowest point on the globe). In its present shape, the Dead Sea has existed for more than 5000 years, during which time a sedimentary silt layer with a thickness of more than 100 meters has accumulated at its bottom.

For many years, under the hot rays of the sun, the Dead Sea water evaporated, and minerals accumulated, increasing the salinity of the sea. These conditions largely determine the uniqueness of the composition of the water and mud of the Dead Sea.

In terms of salt composition, the Dead Sea is very different from all other seas on the planet. The salinity of the Dead Sea is 8 times higher than the salinity of the Atlantic Ocean and 40 times the Baltic Sea. While the content of sodium chloride in the waters of other seas is 77% of the total salt composition, in the waters of the Dead Sea it accounts for 25-30%, and magnesium salts account for up to 50%, the bromine content is record-breaking: 80 times higher. than in the Atlantic Ocean.

The high salinity of the Dead Sea water explains its high density, which is 1.3-1.4 g / cm 3. An increase in the density of water with depth, apparently, creates the effect of pushing out when immersed in water. The water of the Dead Sea is high in trace elements such as: copper, zinc, cobalt and others. The features of the Dead Sea water should also include a high pH value of 9.

Large-scale salinity distribution patterns in the oceans are very stable. Over the past 50 years, there have been no significant changes in the salt state of the oceans, and it is generally accepted that its condition is stationary on average.

Oceanologist Technician
A.V. Timoshkova

In any sea, the water is very salty. But there are bodies of water where the amount of salt is so great that you can’t even swim there. The saltiest sea in the world is not in vain called the Dead. We will tell you more about it and other bodies of water with this feature.

The unique attraction of our planet is actually a lake. Water from it evaporates very quickly due to the high air temperature. There remains a huge amount of salt, which is 30% of the volume here (for comparison: in the ocean - only 3.5%).

The coast of this reservoir is also interesting. From the south there are many therapeutic muds and thermal springs that attract tourists. According to legend, King Herod himself liked to bathe in them.

Along the shore are mountains and pillars of salt. They were formed due to powerful tremors that push salt to the surface like a cork. The largest such mountain has a height of 250 meters and is called Sed.

One cannot but mention the air over the Dead Sea. It is unique because it contains 15% more oxygen than the global average. This is due to the location of the reservoir below the generally accepted sea level and high atmospheric pressure in this area.

It is one of the youngest on our planet, but unusual flora and fauna have already formed here. Since, as already mentioned, the Dead Sea is actually a lake, the Red Sea can be considered the most saline sea in the world (4.1% salt in water).

This amount of salt is due to the fact that not a single fresh river flows into the body of water. If the Dead Sea is not adapted for life, then in the Red, on the contrary, an unusually wide range of living beings.

In addition, the water in it is very warm, and not only from the sun. Warm jets of water also rise from the bottom, so even in winter the temperature of the liquid here does not drop below 21 degrees Celsius.

The name, according to historians, came from the fact that among ancient people living north of these places, red was associated with the south. The Red Sea was mentioned in documents in the II century BC.

The uniqueness of this object is that its parts are washed immediately by three parts of the world - Africa, Asia, Europe. Hence the name. Man began to develop this territory 4 thousand years ago, and several great civilizations developed here at once.

The sea is almost entirely on land, connecting with the Atlantic only through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar and several even smaller ones. The coastline of the reservoir is very winding, includes many islands and bays.

In the Mediterranean, a very special climate, similar to subtropical. In winter it is warm and pleasant, in summer it is hot and dry. Also in winter, hurricanes and storms sometimes occur.

Plants and animals here resemble Atlantic and clearly have the same origin. The waters with a salt content of 3.9% are rich in mackerel, flounder, tuna, squid, and other mollusks. Sharks are also found.

In the waters of this sea 3.8% salt. And it is known, first of all, by a huge number of islands of different sizes - there are more than 2000 of them. Such civilizations as Greek and Mycenaean flourished here at one time.

Such a number of islands is associated with the process of sea formation. There used to be land, then it was filled with water, and the protruding sections turned into islands.

The shores of the reservoir are rocky and a lot of deserts. The bottom of the sea for the most part consists of sand overgrown with small algae. The water is very warm, in winter its temperature does not drop below 11 degrees.

The Aegean Sea has long been famous for its rich wildlife. It always gave people a huge amount of fish and seafood. Unfortunately, this trend is now declining as the sea becomes more dirty.

This geographical feature is also familiar to people from antiquity. The proof of this is his mention in Homer's works “Odyssey” and “Iliad”. Today it is an attractive place for tourists because of the incredibly beautiful scenery.

The bottom of the sea consists of a shell rock - a mixture of the remains of shells of marine inhabitants, sand and silt. The coasts are completely covered with beaches, not only sandy, but also pebble and rocky. In water, approximately 3.8% of salt.

The fauna of the Ionian Sea is largely reminiscent of the Mediterranean. There are also a lot of mullet, tuna, and mackerel. You can see spiny sea urchins everywhere, because of which it is not recommended to enter the water barefoot.

The name of the sea, according to one version, came from the name of the cow Io, who, in legend, swam across it. Another version says that on the banks of the reservoir once lived a tribe of Ionians. Finally, the third version is associated with the color of the water at sunset - “ion” - purple.

The salinity of this reservoir reaches 3.5%. It is located between Russia, Japan and two Koreas, while it is almost completely isolated from the Pacific Ocean. Water exchange is carried out by only a few channels.

The sea has a fairly straight coastline and several small islands in the eastern part. Large islands are absent. There is a large bay named after Peter the Great, in which the cities of Nakhodka and Vladivostok are located.

The water in this sea is quite warm, monsoons often occur, and in the autumn, typhoons. Peter the Great Bay and the Tatar Bay in winter are covered with a layer of ice that lasts four months.

The water is very clear, visibility through it reaches 10 meters. It also contains a large amount of dissolved oxygen, especially in the north and west. In these places, the liquid is colder.

The sea is almost always covered with ice due to the mixing of three water masses - the cold waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic Current and warm coastal waters. Only in September, the pond is briefly freed from ice.

From the south-west, the sea coast is very rocky, densely indented by fjords. But to the east, the coast becomes much lower and more even. There are quite few islands in the Barents Sea, the largest of which is the island of Kalguyev.

The reservoir is actively used for fishing fish and seafood, as well as for shipping. Some important trade routes pass through it. The most significant port is the city of Murmansk.

Laptevih sea

The water in this sea is also salty by 3.5%. It is located between the Novosibirsk Islands and the Northern Land. The ice cover lasts almost the whole year, the climate as a whole is cold, arctic.

The sea is named after Russian travelers, brothers Dmitry and Khariton by the name of Laptev. It was they who in the XVIII century actively mastered these places. But such a name was approved only in 1935.

The full-flowing Lena River flows into the Laptev Sea, forming a large delta. Also, other, smaller, rivers flow into the reservoir - Yana, Anabar, Olenek. The coastline has many bays and bays.

The seas of our planet are an inexhaustible source of useful resources, but for an ordinary person they are not attractive at all for this, but for their unique features. Visiting each of the listed reservoirs, you can see how different they are, but equally beautiful.