Oceans receive freshwater from precipitation and rivers. Yet ocean level do not change very much from these actions. Why are ocean level not greatly affected?
a) Water is constantly seeping underground in the ocean; B)Water is constantly evaporating over the ocean's surface; c) Water is constantly flowing back into rivers from the oceans; d) Water is constantly deposited back on land through ocean wave action.
B: water is constintly evaporating over the ocean's surface.
B: it's also very funny because I had this same question on a science quiz {exact}
The correct answer is b) Water is constantly evaporating over the ocean's surface.
When precipitation occurs, some of the freshwater will flow through rivers and eventually make their way into the oceans. However, the amount of freshwater entering the ocean from rivers is relatively small compared to the vastness of the oceans.
On the other hand, water continuously evaporates from the ocean's surface due to the heat from the sun. This process of evaporation converts liquid water into water vapor, which rises into the atmosphere. As a result, the amount of water in the oceans remains relatively stable, even with the influx of freshwater from precipitation and rivers.
It is important to note that while the ocean level is not greatly affected by precipitation and rivers, it is influenced by other factors such as melting glaciers and ice caps, which can lead to sea-level rise over time. However, this is beyond the scope of the given question.
I don't like any of the answers but the best of the choices I think is b. I think the most logical answer is that the SIZE of the oceans means it can rain a lot, evaporate a lot, gain fresh water from streams (a lot) but the huge size means the level changes little.
I know me too.
a)
water is constantly seeping into the ocean floor