1.5.1. Factors Affecting Ocean Salinity

Major factors are as mentioned below:

♤ The salinity of water in the surface layer of oceans depends mainly on evaporation and precipitation.

♤ Surface salinity is greatly influenced in coastal regions by the fresh water flow from rivers, and in polar-regions by the processes of freezing and thawing of ice.

♤ Wind also influences salinity of an area by transferring water to other areas.

♤ The ocean currents contribute to the salinity variations.

Salinity, temperature and density of water are interrelated. Hence, any change in the temperature or density influences the salinity of water in an area.