Will the evaporation of ocean water at the equator cause the ocean water to become more or less salty, why?
Wouldn't it be because it evaporates, it will be more salty cause the fresh water is evaporating and the salt is left behind?
Thanks
-Allyson
Good question, Allyson! You are almost correct in your understanding. The process of evaporation does indeed cause the ocean water at the equator to become saltier. Here's an explanation of why:
When water from the ocean surface evaporates, only the pure water molecules turn into vapor, leaving behind the dissolved substances, including salt. This means that when water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind, resulting in a higher concentration of salt in the remaining water.
At the equator, where the surface temperature is high, the rate of evaporation is significant. As the water evaporates, it takes away the freshwater, while the salt content remains constant or increases. Over time, this continuous evaporation process at the equator results in an accumulation of salt, making the remaining ocean water saltier.
So, to summarize, evaporation of ocean water at the equator causes the water to become more salty because the freshwater evaporates, leaving the salt behind.