What is the saltiest sea in the world? The saltiest sea in the world Red or Dead? Seas with salinity above 35
The main feature that distinguishes water Oceans from the waters of the land, is their high salinity... The number of grams of substances dissolved in 1 liter of water is called salinity.
Sea water is a solution of 44 chemical elements, but salts play a primary role in it. Table salt gives the water a salty taste, while magnesium salt gives it a bitter taste. Salinity is expressed in ppm (% o). This is a thousandth of a number. An average of 35 grams of various substances are dissolved in a liter of ocean water, which means that the salinity will be 35% o.
The amount of salts dissolved in will be approximately 49.2 10 tons. In order to visualize how large this mass is, the following comparison can be made. If all the dry sea salt is distributed over the entire surface of the land, then it will be covered with a layer 150 m thick.
The salinity of ocean waters is not the same everywhere. The salinity is influenced by the following processes:
- evaporation of water. In this process, salts with water do not evaporate;
- ice formation;
- loss, lowering salinity;
- ... The salinity of ocean waters near the continents is much less than in the center of the ocean, since the waters desalinate it;
- melting ice.
Processes such as evaporation and ice formation contribute to an increase in salinity, and precipitation, river runoff, and ice melting lower it. Evaporation and precipitation play a major role in changing salinity. Therefore, the salinity of the surface layers of the ocean, as well as temperature, depends on those related to latitude.
) or PSU (Practical Salinity Units) of the practical salinity scale (Practical Salinity Scale).
| Element | Content, mg / l |
|---|---|
| Chlorine | 19 500 |
| Sodium | 10 833 |
| Magnesium | 1 311 |
| Sulfur | 910 |
| Calcium | 412 |
| Potassium | 390 |
| Bromine | 65 |
| Carbon | 20 |
| Strontium | 13 |
| Boron | 4,5 |
| Fluorine | 1,0 |
| Silicon | 0,5 |
| Rubidium | 0,2 |
| Nitrogen | 0,1 |
Salinity in ppm is the amount of solids in grams dissolved in 1 kg of seawater, provided that all halogens are replaced by an equivalent amount of chlorine, all carbonates are converted to oxides, organic matter is burned.
In 1978, a practical salinity scale (Practical Salinity Scale 1978, PSS-78) was introduced and approved by all international oceanographic organizations, in which salinity measurement is based on electrical conductivity (conductometry), and not on water evaporation. In the 1970s, widespread use in marine research received oceanographic CTD-probes, and since then the salinity of water is measured mainly by the electric method. To check the operation of conductivity cells that are immersed in water, laboratory salt meters are used. In turn, standard seawater is used to test the salt meters. Standard sea water recommended an international organization IAPSO for calibrating salt meters, produced in Great Britain by Ocean Scientific International Limited (OSIL) from natural seawater. If all measurement standards are followed, salinity measurements can be accurate to 0.001 PSU.
The PSS-78 scale gives numerical results close to mass fraction measurements, and differences are noticeable either when measurements are needed with an accuracy of better than 0.01 PSU, or when the salt composition does not correspond to the standard composition of ocean water.
- Atlantic Ocean - 35.4 ‰ The highest salinity of surface waters in the open ocean is observed in subtropical zone(up to 37.25 ‰), and the maximum - in the Mediterranean: 39 ‰. In the equatorial zone, where the maximum amount of precipitation is noted, salinity decreases to 34 ‰. A sharp desalination of water occurs in the estuarine areas (for example, at the mouth of the La Plata - 18-19 ‰).
- Indian Ocean - 34.8 ‰. The maximum salinity of surface waters is observed in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, where it reaches 40-41 ‰. High salinity (over 36 ‰) is also observed in the southern tropical belt, especially in the eastern regions, and in the northern hemisphere also in the Arabian Sea. In the neighboring Bay of Bengal, due to the desalting effect of the Ganges runoff with Brahmaputra and Ayeyarwaddy, salinity is reduced to 30-34 ‰. The seasonal difference in salinity is significant only in the Antarctic and equatorial zones... In winter, desalinated waters from the northeastern part of the ocean are carried by the monsoon current, forming a tongue of low salinity along 5 ° N. sh. This language disappears in the summer.
- Pacific Ocean - 34.5 ‰. The tropical zones have the maximum salinity (maximum up to 35.5-35.6 ‰), where intense evaporation is combined with a relatively small amount of precipitation. To the east, under the influence of cold currents, salinity decreases. Large amounts of precipitation also reduce salinity, especially at the equator and in the western circulation zones of temperate and subpolar latitudes.
- Arctic Ocean - 32 ‰. Several layers of water masses are distinguished in the Arctic Ocean. The surface layer has low temperature(below 0 ° C) and reduced salinity. The latter is explained by the freshening effect of river runoff, melt water and very weak evaporation. Below, a subsurface layer is distinguished, colder (down to −1.8 ° C) and more salty (up to 34.3 ‰), formed when surface waters are mixed with the underlying intermediate water layer. The intermediate water layer is Atlantic water coming from the Greenland Sea with a positive temperature and increased salinity (more than 37 ‰), extending to a depth of 750-800 m. winter time also in the Greenland Sea, slowly creeping in a single stream from the strait between Greenland and Svalbard. The temperature of deep waters is about -0.9 ° C, salinity is close to 35 ‰. ...
Salinity ocean waters varies with latitude, from the open ocean to the shores. In the surface waters of the oceans, it is lowered in the equator, in the polar latitudes.
| Name | Salinity, ‰ |
|---|---|
There are more than 70 seas on our planet. And all of them are an insignificant but integral part of the World Ocean. Researchers classify them into very different categories: size, location, depth, etc. One of these categories is the level of salt in water. We have compiled the top 10 most saline seas in the world, and will also tell you exactly how the salinity of water in them is measured and who can live in the waters of such objects.
Method of determination
The unit for measuring the salinity of water, as well as the level of alcohol in the blood, scientists called ppm. 1 ppm means the volume of solids that are dissolved in 1 kg of seawater. The problem is that the composition of water in the seas is complex enough for direct chemical analysis. To determine the level of salinity, the concentration of an element, electrical conductivity, is taken as a basis. Or they proceed from the magnitude of refraction. Using this method, biologists were able to determine which seas are the saltiest in the world.
At the very end of our list is the White Sea. Its waters wash the north of the European part of our country. The salt content here is kept at around 26-28%. Such a low level is due to the fact that a huge number of rivers flow into the White Sea. At depth, the mineralization can reach 31 ppm.
It should be said that the White Sea is one of the smallest, washing the shores of Russia. Its area barely exceeds 90,000 km 2.
The fishing industry is very developed here: the average catch is kept at around 2,000 tons.
9. Chukchi Sea
In the water area of the Arctic Ocean, between Alaska and Chukotka, there is Chukotka, which occupies the 9th position in our rating of the saltiest seas in the world, with an area of 590 km 2. Given the geographical features, even in summer, the water temperature rarely rises above 12 ° C. In winter, it drops to 0 ° C altogether. But despite this, the salinity level here is slightly higher than that of Of the White Sea- 32-33 ppm.
The harsh climate prevailing in these latitudes is reflected in the inhabitants of the sea. Only the most persistent representatives of the fauna are able to survive in such conditions. Nevertheless, cod is the main target here.
The huge sea (more than 670 square kilometers), washing the north of Siberia, is called the Laptev Sea and is ranked 8th in our ranking of the saltiest seas. In winter, the salinity of its waters fluctuates at the level of 34%. But in the southern part it drops sharply up to 25%, and with the arrival of summer it can even drop to 5 ppm. As in all other seas, the maximum level (35%) is observed in the depths.
An interesting fact: despite the fact that the water temperature rarely rises above 0 ° C, the Laptev Sea is especially loved by surfers from all over the world because of the high level of coastal waves.
If you want to organize fishing in the Laptev Sea, then you are waiting for complete failure... Only 40 species of fish live here. True, a giant flounder and a gigantic sardine are often found.
Another body of water that is part of the Arctic Ocean. The Barents Sea washes the coast of Norway and Russian Federation... It is considered the most dangerous in our country.
Through the influence warm current from the North Atlantic, the salinity of the water is constantly changing here. True, it fluctuates in a small range: from 33 to 35 ppm. The level also depends on the seasonality: in summer it is slightly lower.
The flora of the Barents Sea is rich in plankton. It is also from this reservoir that the Kamchatka crab is delivered throughout the country. But be careful: aggressive polar bears and seals can be found on the coast.
Occupying the middle position on our list, the Sea of Japan confidently leads the top of the saltiest seas in Russia. Despite the gigantic area of 1000 km 2, the level of NaCl (sodium chloride) in almost all of its zones is confidently kept at around 34%.
It should be noted that the Sea of Japan is extremely cold. In the south, temperatures can drop below -27 ° C. The average annual temperature ranges from -1 ... + 13 ° С.
The underwater world of the Sea of Japan is not stable. In the northern part, there are much fewer inhabitants than in the southern part. Nevertheless, if you decide to feast on large shrimp or scallops, the Sea of Japan will give you such an opportunity. Also on the coast at the end of spring you can meet crabs.
Finally, we are transported to where it is warm. To start on the shores of Greece. It is believed that the Ionian is both the saltiest sea in this country (38 ppm) and the densest in the world. If you are just learning to swim, then this reservoir will be a real gift for you. The waters of the Ionian Sea literally push you to the surface. It is because of the high level of density that you are unlikely to be able to get to the bottom on your own. In summer, the water is warm, about +27 ° С. Winter and the end of the swimming season mark a temperature drop of up to + 15 ° С.
The coast of Greece is washed by another sea - the Aegean. Researchers have found a concentrated alkali level of 39.5% here. If you plan to swim in its waters, then you should heed the advice of dermatologists and use a special cream after the completion of the procedure. It will also be useful to shower yourself fresh water to rinse off the sodium deposited on the skin.
The sea is believed to have formed over 20,000 years ago. True, what size of the reservoir was at that time is unknown. Today, the Aegean Sea stretches over an area of 180,000 km 2.
The underwater flora of the Aegean and Ionian Seas is similar in many ways. Animals are different. If the Aegean is rich in octopuses, then the Ionian is rich in flounder and tuna.
The three winners on our list are opened by the Mediterranean Sea. We all know him, many regularly visit his beaches, not even suspecting that the salinity level of his waters reaches 41 ppm.
The Mediterranean Sea stands out among others in several ways. Firstly, it is the warmest sea. Secondly, it is truly gigantic - its area is just over 2,500,000 km 2. And the greatest depth recorded by scientists exceeds 5 km.
Due to its enormous size, the Mediterranean Sea also boasts a variety of inhabitants. Its waters are home to just over 500 species of fish. Needless to say, Mediterranean cuisine is based on marine life.
The picturesque Red Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean, stretches between Middle East Asia and the African continent. The reservoir is relatively small - only 438,000 km 2. And this is a unique sea of its kind, into the waters of which not a single river flows.
Despite the fact that the reservoir ranks second in the ranking of the saltiest seas, the world of its flora and fauna is very diverse. Here you can find both sharks and killer whales, as well as age turtles and dolphins. In addition, the diversity and beauty of the coral reefs attracts many divers from all over the world.
It should be noted right away that many scientists still consider the reservoir a lake. But if you put all the legal nuances aside ... the salinity Dead sea- 270%! This is both unique and stunning figure, which means that in 1 liter of water chemical analysis showed 270 grams of alkali. This is almost 10 times more than in the Red Sea. Naturally, you won't find anything like this on our plane anymore, so this is the saltiest sea on earth. Its minerals contain an impressive portion of the periodic table, including bromine and potassium. Do I need to warn that swimming in its waters is not worth it?
It's not called the Dead Sea for nothing. Only a few types of mushrooms can survive here. It will definitely not work to find random inhabitants: the maximum depth of the sea-lake reaches only 300 meters, so 99.9% of the waters have already been studied and surveyed.
Summarizing the facts
As you can see, the opinions of scientists about which sea is the saltiest are divided. Many geographers are firmly convinced that Dead is a lake, not a sea, which is why they give the palm to the vice-winner of our rating - the Red Sea. Those researchers who do not care about such trifles are in favor of the Dead.
Five objects from our list border on the territory of the Russian Federation, which should be noted. The most salty sea, washing the shores of our country, is the Japanese. And from the lakes - Bear.
Now you know about the 10 saltiest seas. And which one is best suited for a spa vacation is up to you.
The topic of the second assignment in geography of the USE format sounds like "Lithosphere. Atmosphere. Hydrosphere."
For execution of this task it is necessary to know the salinity of most seas, the percentage composition of the atmosphere, to be able to correlate temperature changes with the rise or rise of the earth's surface above sea level, to be aware of the dependence atmospheric pressure from the height of the earth's surface, to distinguish between relative and absolute humidity.
Required theory:
To begin with, it is worth clarifying that the task is divided into many subtypes, which becomes clear already from its name. Therefore, the theory and procedure for doing the job vary greatly.
1 type of task: Atmosphere pressure.
The lower the surface of the earth is below sea level, the higher the atmospheric pressure.
2nd type of task: salinity of the seas.
Tropical seas are saltier than northern ones.
In general, it is better to remember a ready-made table of the salinity of the seas than to try to remember which of them can be attributed to tropical and which is not. Personally, I memorized one of the mnemotic rules, composing a story, somehow using the names of the seas in it. You can think of your own more efficient way.
Not all seas are listed in the table below, but I have not seen any other than them on the probes.
TABLE OF THE SALINITY OF THE SEAS:
Red sea
Mediterranean Sea
Barents / Caribbean / North Seas
Japanese Sea
Sea of Okhotsk
Bering Sea
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
Caspian Sea
41.5 ppm
39.5 ppm
35 ppm
34 ppm
32 ppm
up to 32 ppm
up to 18 ppm
15 ppm
13 ppm
3 type of task: the percentage of gases in the atmosphere.
Naturally, there are a lot of gases in the atmosphere, and the percentage of some of them is very small. It is worth remembering those in bold, the rest I personally have never come across in trial tasks.
PERCENTAGE OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE:
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen
4 type of task: dependence of air temperature on the rise of the earth's surface above sea level.
The higher the surface of the earth above sea level, the lower the air temperature.
5 type of task: relative and absolute humidity air.
Absolute humidity - water vapor content in 1 m ^ 3 air [g]
Relative humidity [%]
This task can also be divided into subtypes, so you should show everything clearly.
1. If the relative humidity in the table is the same, but it is necessary to determine the temperature, then:
The higher the absolute humidity (g), the higher the temperature.
2. If the air temperature in the table is the same, but it is necessary to determine relative humidity air, then:
The more water vapor, the higher the relative humidity.
3. If the absolute humidity in the table is the same, but it is necessary to determine the air temperature, then:
The higher the relative humidity, the lower the air temperature.
Examples of the five Job Types:
1. atmospheric pressure.
At the points indicated in the figure with numbers, measurements of atmospheric pressure are simultaneously carried out. Arrange these points in the order of the rise in atmospheric pressure (from lowest to highest).
Also, the task can be presented in the form of a table or graph, but the principle of its implementation does not change from this.
2. salinity of the seas.
Arrange the seas in the order of decreasing surface water salinity (from highest to lowest).
1) Barents;
2) Black;
3) Mediterranean.
3. the percentage of gases in the atmosphere.
Arrange the gases in the order of increasing their content in the atmospheric air (from lowest to highest).
1) Oxygen;
2) Nitrogen;
3) Hydrogen.
4. dependence of air temperature on the rise of the earth's surface above sea level.
At the points indicated in the figure with numbers, air temperature measurements are simultaneously carried out. Arrange these items in order of decreasing air temperature in them (from the highest to the lowest).
The same task can be presented in the form of a table or other graph, but the principle of its implementation does not change.
5.2. relative and absolute air humidity.
(The air temperature is the same, but the absolute humidity is not.)
At the points indicated in the table by numbers, measurements of the content of water vapor in 1 m ^ 3 of air and temperature are simultaneously carried out. Arrange these items in order of increasing relative humidity (from lowest to highest).
5.3. relative and absolute air humidity.
(the absolute humidity is the same and the relative humidity is different).
At meteorological stations 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously measure the content of water vapor in 1 m ^ 3 of air and determine the relative humidity of the air. The values obtained are shown in the table. Place these meteorological stations in the order of the air temperature rise at them at the time of the specified measurements (from the lowest to the highest).
Everyone knows firsthand that the water in the sea is salty. But to answer the question of which sea is the saltiest on the planet, most people are likely to find it difficult. However, it is unlikely that a person thought about why the sea is salty and whether there is life in the saltiest sea in the world.
1. Dead Sea
Salinity 270 ‰ The Dead Sea is the saltiest in the world, located on the border between Israel and Jordan. The content of minerals is about 270 ‰, and the concentration of salts per 1 liter reaches 200 grams. In terms of the composition of salts, the sea is significantly different from all others. It is 50% magnesium chloride and is also rich in potassium, bromine, calcium and many other minerals. Potassium salts are artificially crystallized from its water. The water has the highest density here, which is 1.3-1.4 g / m³, which completely excludes the possibility of drowning.
In addition to unique salts, the sea contains medicinal mud, which contains 45% salts. It features a high pH value of 9 and tastes bitter and oily water. The sea temperature can reach 40 degrees above zero, which creates intense evaporation and contributes to high density. If different inhabitants live in other waters with high salinity, then it is impossible to meet them in the waters of the Dead Sea.