![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() The profile above represents a stable state, or a high degree of stratification, where the warm, low density layer sits atop the colder, denser layer. The warm surface water causes a decrease in surface density (PW). Figure 6.3.2 Representative density profile for the open ocean at mid-latitudes. Below the pycnocline, density may be fairly constant (as is temperature), or it may continue to increase slightly towards the bottom. The pycnocline coincides with the thermocline, as it is the sudden decrease in temperature that leads to the increase in density. As depth increases, there is a region of rapidly increasing density with increasing depth, which is called the pycnocline. Density is lowest at the surface, where the water is the warmest. Since temperature has the greatest effect on density, density profiles are usually mirror images of temperature profiles (Figure 6.3.2). Colder polar regions display higher densities than warmer tropical zones (By Plumbago (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons). However, if not for the slight compression of water due to pressure, sea level would be approximately 50 m higher than it is today! That leaves temperature and salinity as the primary factors determining density, and of these, temperature has the greatest impact (Figure 6.3.1).įigure 6.3.1 Global sea surface density. Pressure has the least impact on density as water is fairly incompressible, so pressure effects are not very significant except at extreme depths. The density of seawater can be increased by reducing its temperature, increasing its salinity, or increasing the pressure. The density of fresh water is 1 g/cm 3 at 4 o C (see section 5.1), but the addition of salts and other dissolved substances increases surface seawater density to between 1.02 and 1.03 g/cm 3. Density refers to the amount of mass per unit volume, such as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm 3). ![]()
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