Total salt in the ocean water remains the same over a larger duration is called the Salt Budget of the ocean.
The following are the sources of Oceanic salt:
Lithosphere:
- Rainwater is generally acidic in nature and erodes the rocks. Salt from rocks came out and get dissolved in the surface water. Through surface runoff, they reach to ocean.
- Ocean ridges are also sources of salt for the ocean.
- Submarine volcanos eruptions.
Atmosphere:
- Ocean gets salts from the atmosphere in the form of Dust Salt.
Biosphere:
- Phytoplankton and Zooplankton do contain salt in their body after decomposition they dissolved in the ocean.
Sources of Continental Salt:
- Tectonic upliftment and Rock salt
In general:
- Salinity increase with depth.
- Salinity decrease with the increase of latitudes.
Ocean maintains sal budget uniform by the Surface current[ Horizontal mixing], downwelling, and Upwelling process [ Vertical Mixing].
For example,
- the North-East Atlantic ocean near Europe experiences more salt due to North Atlantic drifts current.
- Due to Upwelling, Chile Coast receives increase saline water.
- Sinking or downwelling happens in the polar region.
For a detailed explanation, watch the below video:
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