Calculate the decrease in salinity of a 50 m deep mixed layer across the entire

Question

Calculate the decrease in salinity of a 50 m deep mixed layer across the entire Arctic Ocean (14x106 km2) expected during the summer as a result of melting of sea ice. Assume the Arctic ocean is fully covered in sea ice in spring at the beginning of summer and 50% covered at the end of summer, that the sea ice is 2 m thick on average, and the salinity of surface ocean in spring is 33 which is approximately equal to 33 g salt per liter of seawater. Assume that the change in volume due to melting ice is not important.

Explanation / Answer

Spring Season: 100% Covered with Sea ICE... 33g Salt per liter of Seawater

Summer Season: 50% covered with Sea ICE... 742 Km2 ....Salt per liter of Seawater will be 16.5 to 17g Slat per litre of Seawater.

50 meters depth ... Salinity

Salinity is a measure of the total amount of dissolved solids (salts) in the ocean. The average salinity in the ocean varies from about 33 – 37 parts per thousand (ppt or o/oo).

The salts dissolved in seawater are heavier than the water molecules themselves. Therefore increasing the salinity of water increases its density. Water with low salinity will float on top of water with a high salinity,The middle zone is a zone where salinity increases with depth; this is known as a halocline. Below the halocline, the deep zone contains water of fairly uniform higher salinity.

50m = Salinity decrease with 17 to 29g slat per litre of sea water

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