Major ion composition of seawater (mg/L)

Chloride (Cl-)
Sodium (Na+)
Sulfate (SO42-)
Magnesium (Mg2+)
Calcium (Ca2+)
Potassium (K+)
Bicarbonate(HCO3-)
Strontium (Sr2+)
Bromide (Br-)
Borate (BO33-)
Fluoride (F-)
Silicate (SiO32-)
Iodide (I-)
Others
Total dissolved solids (TDS)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Typical Seawater
18.980
10.556
2.649
1.262
400
380
140
13
65
26
1
1
<1
34.483

Eastern Mediterranean
21.200
11.800
2.950
1.403
423
463
155
72
2
38.600

Arabian Gulf at Kuwait Red Sea at Jeddah

23.000
22.219
15.850
14.255
3.200
3.078
1.765
742
500
225
460
210
142
146
80
72
1,5
45.000
41.000

Graph the top concentration of the top six ions in seawater. Use different colors to show the source of the
sample.
Which ocean has the highest concentration of sodium and chlorine ions?
Explain what conditions in the area contribute to the higher levels of sodium and chlorine in question 3?
Iodide is an important trace element in the human diet. Why is their concentration so low in the Arabian
Gulf and the Red Sea?
Which sea would you expect to have the densest water? Explain your answer.
How would you expect the ionic composition of water at the mouth of the Mississippi river to be different
from these four samples?

OCEAN SALINITY
The table below lists the approximate surface water salinities at various latitudes in the Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Using the data construct a salinity curve for each ocean. Use different colored pencils to graph each
ocean. Answer the following questions.
At which latitudes are the highest surface salinities found. Suggest a reason why this is so?
Which of the ocean has the higher average salinity?
Suggest a reason for the difference in salinities between the oceans at the same latitude. A globe might
help you find the answers.

All measurements is in parts per million.

LATITUDE

ATLANTIC OCEAN

PACIFIC OCEAN

600N

33.0

31.0

500N

33.7

32.5

400N

34.8

33.2

30 N

36.7

34.2

200N

36.8

34.2

100N

36.0

34.4

00 Equator

35.0

34.3

10 S

35.9

35.2

200S

36.7

35.6

300S

36.2

35.7

400S

35.3

35.0

500S

34.3

34.4

33.9

34.0

60 S