Consider the following statements:
1. Salinity at the surface is affected by factors such as ice formation, evaporation, and river inflow.
2. Halocline is the zone where salinity decreases sharply with depth.
3. Generally, increasing salinity of seawater causes its density to increase.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 only

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. Salinity at the surface is affected by factors such as ice formation, evaporation, and river inflow.
2. Halocline is the zone where salinity decreases sharply with depth.
3. Generally, increasing salinity of seawater causes its density to increase.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 only

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is correct: The salinity of water in the surface layer of oceans depends mainly on evaporation and precipitation. Surface salinity is greatly influenced in coastal regions by the freshwater flow from rivers, and in polar regions by the processes of freezing and thawing of ice.

Statement 2 is not correct: The halocline is the layer in the ocean where salinity increases sharply with depth, not decreases. It acts as a transition zone separating lower salinity surface waters from higher salinity deeper waters.

Statement 3 is correct: Salinity and density are directly related. Other factors being constant, increasing salinity of seawater causes its density to increase. High salinity seawater generally sinks below the lower salinity water. This leads to stratification by salinity.

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Consider the following statements: 1. Salinity at the surface is affected by factors such as ice formation, evaporation, and river inflow. 2. Halocline is the zone where salinity decreases sharply with depth. 3. Generally, increasing salinity of seawater causes its density to increase. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1 only