This question provides some intuition for the effect of pressure upon the change

Question

This question provides some intuition for the effect of pressure upon the change of density of sea water.

(a) Given that the thermal expansion coefficient for water is T (1/)(/T) =2.1 × 104 K 1 , find the change of density for water that cools by 1C. Now use the conservation of potential density for sea water to find how deep water at the surface must descend adiabatically so that its density changes by the same amount.

(b) Given the relative density change of sea water with salinity S is S = (1/)(/S) = 7.4 × 104 ppt1 , find the change of density of sea water that has fixed temperature but becomes more saline by 1 ppt. As in (a) find the depth to which water must descend so that its density changes by this amount.

Explanation / Answer

Answer:a

Temperature and density are inversely proportional, as the temperature increases density decreases. As the temperature decreases by 1o C therefore density would be decrease. Sea water have about 1027 kg/ m3 density and it fluctuates upto the dept of 1000 m after that it would be constant.

Answer:b

Salinity is directly proportional to density, means more saline water would have more dense. And in sea water less saline water floats over more saline water. As the salinity increases by 1 ppt the density of sea water also increases.

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