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It is also estimated that the oceans supply about 90% of the evaporated water that goes into the water cycle. [20] The Earth's ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snowpack stores another 24,064,000 km 3 accounting for only 1.7% of the planet's total water volume. However, this quantity of water is 68.7% of all freshwater on the planet.
This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In the Earth's polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice. As a consequence the surrounding seawater gets saltier, because when sea ice forms, the salt is left behind. As the seawater gets saltier, its density increases, and it starts to sink.
Fully formed sea ice can be forced together by currents and winds to form pressure ridges up to 12 metres (39 ft) tall. [53] On the other hand, active wave activity can reduce sea ice to small, regularly shaped pieces, known as pancake ice. [54] Sometimes, wind and wave activity "polishes" sea ice to perfectly spherical pieces known as ice eggs.
Air volume fraction during ice growth period is typically around 1–2 %, but may substantially increase upon ice warming. [18] Air volume of sea ice in can be as high as 15 % in summer [19] and 4 % in autumn. [20] Both brine and air volumes influence sea-ice density values, which are typically around 840–910 kg/m 3 for first-year ice. Sea ...
The formation of sea-ice is accompanied by brine rejection, resulting in water with a higher salinity and density and therefore buoyancy loss. When ice melts there is a freshwater flow and exposure to the atmosphere. If water turns into ice, there is more salt in the water and less exposure to the atmosphere.
The new phase of water might be an important sign of a planet's ability to host life. Skip to main content. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: 800-290-4726 more ways to ...
Sea water is 827 times denser than air. Due to the higher density of sea water (1,030 kg m −3) than air (1.2 kg m −3), the force exerted by the same velocity on an organism is 827 times stronger in the ocean. When waves crash on the shore, the force exerted on littoral organisms can be equivalent to several tons.
Somewhere under the four sheets of curling ice being used for the Beijing Olympics is the swimming pool where Michael Phelps splashed his way to history in the 2008 Summer Games. At first glance ...