seawater

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chemical and physical properties of seawater
- Chemical composition
  - Dissolved inorganic substances
  - Dissolved organic substances
  - Effects of human activities
- Salinity distribution
- Temperature distribution
- Thermal properties
- Density of seawater and pressure
- Optical properties
- Acoustic properties
Chemical evolution of seawater
- The early oceans
- The transition stage
- The modern oceans

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seawater: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	salt water • saltwater

Photos and Videos

ocean acidification

absorption coefficient for liquid water

Why is seawater so salty?

Know why urinating in the ocean is not chemically damaging to the marine ecosystem

Take an in-depth look at the variety of plankton, from diatoms and microflagellates to jellyfish

Which has a lower freezing point, salt water or fresh water?

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

sea ice water mass thermocline halocline pycnocline ocean circulation downwelling salinity sea salt upwelling wave lake ocean current ocean acidification tide water cycle

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Key People

V. Walfrid Ekman, 1928

V. Walfrid Ekman

Swedish scientist

Richard H. Fleming

American oceanographer

Quiz

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