Oceans are the rinsing of the Earth. Salts are washed from the land into the ocean. The rocks on land contain calcium carbonate (limestone), magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts), and sodium chloride (table salt). The process of weathering breaks down the minerals in these rocks and salts, and they dissolve in the water as rivers and streams wash the salts from the land into the ocean. We can see evidence of this interaction of water and stone at most any cemetery. Many early headstones were made of marble. After a hundred years of wind and rain, the inscriptions are hard to read.
The salt in the ocean also comes from volcanic activity. While there is hardly any sulphur and chlorine in rocks, volcanoes spew these elements into the atmosphere, and they end up falling in the world’s oceans. Sulphur and chlorine add to the saltiness of the oceans.
Since weathering and volcanic eruptions continually happen, it might seem that the oceans should become more and more salty. But salt is constantly being removed by clams and other shellfish that use calcium carbonate to build their shells. So the salinity of the oceans has remained fairly consistent for a long time.
Answers
Vimal shah
Oceans are the rinsing of the Earth. Salts are washed from the land into the ocean. The rocks on land contain calcium carbonate (limestone), magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts), and sodium chloride (table salt). The process of weathering breaks down the minerals in these rocks and salts, and they dissolve in the water as rivers and streams wash the salts from the land into the ocean. We can see evidence of this interaction of water and stone at most any cemetery. Many early headstones were made of marble. After a hundred years of wind and rain, the inscriptions are hard to read.
The salt in the ocean also comes from volcanic activity. While there is hardly any sulphur and chlorine in rocks, volcanoes spew these elements into the atmosphere, and they end up falling in the world’s oceans. Sulphur and chlorine add to the saltiness of the oceans.
Since weathering and volcanic eruptions continually happen, it might seem that the oceans should become more and more salty. But salt is constantly being removed by clams and other shellfish that use calcium carbonate to build their shells. So the salinity of the oceans has remained fairly consistent for a long time.