Describe the horizontal and vertical spatial variations in the temperature and salinity of ocean water.

Temperature:

• varies considerably at the surface of the ocean but little variation at depth

• there is a gradual decrease in temperature with depth
• a cold, highly saline, deep mass of water is very dense, while a warm, less saline, surface water mass is less dense
• when larger masses of water meet with different densities, denser water mass slips under the less dense mass
  • because of these responses, this is the reason for some of the deep ocean circulation patterns

Salinity:

• concentrations of salt are higher in warm seas due to high evaporation rates

• salinity increases with depth