Why Sea Water is Salty: If rivers bring sweet water then why is the sea so salty? Learn in simple language the scientific secret of the saltiness of the sea and the millions of years old natural process.
Why Ocean Water is Salty: Have you ever been to the sea shore? Even if a sip of water goes into the mouth by mistake, the tongue becomes so salty that it makes a face. But has it ever come to your mind that when the river water which quenches our thirst, the same sweet water meets the sea, then how does it suddenly become so salty? After all, who dissolves so much salt in the sea? The answer to this is hidden in a secret game of nature that is millions of years old, which will really surprise you.
The whole story starts with the rain
The salting of the ocean begins with rain. Rain water is not completely pure. When it falls on mountains, rocks and soil, it gradually dissolves the minerals and salts present in them and takes it away with itself. This water passes through small rivers into big rivers and then finally reaches the sea. Similarly, salt and minerals have been continuously reaching the sea through rivers for millions of years.
Why does salt keep accumulating in the sea?
Rivers continuously bring both water and salt to the sea, but when water evaporates from the sea, only water goes into the sky in the form of steam. Salt and other minerals remain in the sea. That means every year a little salt keeps getting added to the sea, but does not come out. Over millions of years, this salt accumulates and makes the ocean salty.
Where does sea salt come from?
The biggest source of salt present in the sea is rocks. Apart from these, some salt also comes from underwater volcanoes and hydrothermal vents present in the depths of the sea. They keep releasing the minerals present inside the earth into the sea water. However, most of the salt present in the sea reaches through rivers.
Is the water of every sea equally salty?
No. The amount of salt is not the same in all seas. The water of the Dead Sea is counted among the most saline reservoirs in the world. Where there is more rainfall or where big rivers meet the sea, the water is less salty than the rest. In hot and dry areas, where water evaporates faster, ocean water is saltier.
Can we drink sea water?
No. It is not safe to drink sea water. The amount of salt in it is so high that drinking it can increase dehydration in the body. Our kidneys use more water to remove excess salt. Therefore, instead of quenching thirst, sea water can create more thirst. For example: Suppose you have a bucket. Every day we put a little salt in it and also fill it with water. Now every day some part of the water evaporates, but the salt remains in the bucket. After some time the amount of salt in the bucket increases. This exact process has been happening in the ocean for millions of years.
Can the sea ever be sweet?
Naturally this is impossible. It is not possible to remove the salt deposited in the vast ocean. However, with the help of latest technology desalination, potable water is made by removing salt from sea water. In many Gulf countries, people get drinking water with the help of this technique.
Facts related to salt water of the sea
- According to NOAA, sea water contains an average of 3.5% salt, meaning about 35 grams of salt per liter.
- About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean.
- About 97% of the Earth’s total water is in the oceans.
- According to the USGS, less than 1% of Earth’s total water is freshwater.
Content Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Geological Survey, National Geographic Encyclopaedia Britannica, NASA Earth Observatory.