Question

The average salinity of Indian Ocean is
1. 70%
2. 36%
3. 35%
4. 30%

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : 35%

The correct answer is 35%.

• The salinity of Ocean Water
  • Salinity means the total content of dissolved salts in Sea or Ocean.
  • Salinity is calculated as the amount of salt dissolved in 1,000 gm of seawater.
  • It is generally expressed as ‘parts per thousand’ (ppt).
  • A salinity of 24.7 % has been regarded as the upper limit to fix ‘brackish water’.
  • It is a significant factor in deciding several characteristics of the chemistry of natural waters and biological processes.

• • Isohalines are used on maps to show the salinity of different places.
  • Isohalines lines join places having an equal degree of salinity.
  • The average salinity of the ocean is 35.2% or 35 parts of salt in 1000 parts of water. Hence, Option 3 is correct.
  • The salinity of the Great Salt Lake, (Utah, USA), the Dead Sea, and the Lake Van in Turkey are 220, 240, and 330 respectively. The oceans and salt lakes are becoming saltier as time goes on because the rivers dump more salt into them, while freshwater is lost due to evaporation.