Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

evaporation precipitation high low ITCZ Trade Winds North American Amazon Eurasi

ID: 299769 • Letter: E

Question

evaporation                 precipitation                 high                             low

            ITCZ                            Trade Winds                North American          Amazon

Eurasian                      equatorial                    Prevailing Westerlies Congo

Polar Easterlies           Subtropical High         Subpolar Low

The highest average sea surface salinity is found at the latitudes of ________ in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Sea surface salinities are highest in these latitudes because __________ exceeds __________. This relationship is the result of two factors. First, these regions receive relatively _______ angles of sunlight year round that warm the sea surface and increase the rate and the amount of sea water ____________. Secondly, the _____________ pressure belt reduces the likelihood of ___________ despite the high rates of sea water _________.

            The lowest average sea surface salinity occurs at a latitude of ________. In this region, ____________ rates and amounts are low because the angles of sunlight are ________ year round and the length of daylight are diminished to less than six hours at the winter solstice. Additionally, the amount of ___________ can exceed the amount of sea water lost to ___________ because this is the region of the _____________ pressure belt where the _________ and __________ wind belts converge. Rivers in this region also drain the __________ that falls on the _________ and _______ continents providing large amounts of freshwater influx to the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Arctic Oceans.

The average sea surface salinity in the _________ latitudes is surprisingly, relatively low despite the very consistent daylight hours (12 hours year round) and the very _________ angles of sunlight which result in the highest rates and amounts of ______________ on Earth. However, in this region, copious amounts of _____________ are produced because of the convergence of the __________, a region known as the ___________.   In addition to the large amount of freshwater returned directly to the sea surface by ____________, the _________ and _________ rivers which drain the ____________ that falls upon the South American and African continents, deliver more freshwater to the World Ocean than any other rivers on Earth.

Explanation / Answer

The highest average sea surface salinity is found at the latitude of equitorial in both the northern and southern hemisphere. Sea surface salinities are highest in these latitudes because precipitation exceeds evaporation. The relationship is the result of two factors. First , these regions receive relatively low angle of sunlight year round that warm the Sea surface and increase the rate and amount of sea water evaporation. Secondly , the ITCZ pressure belt reduces the likelihood of precipitation despite the high rates of sea water evaporation.

The lowest average sea surface salinity occurs at a latitude of polar easterlies . In this region, evaporation rates and amount are low because the angle of sunlight are low year round and the length of daylight are diminished to less than six hours at winter solstice. Additionally the amount of precipitation can exceed the amount of sea water lost to evaporation because this is the region of the ITCZ pressure belt where the subtropical high and subtropical low wind belts coverage. Rivers in this region also drain the precipitation that falls on the North American and Eurasian continents providing large amounts of fresh water influx to the North Atlantic, North pacific and Arctic oceans.

The average sea surface salinity in the equitorial latitudes is surprisingly, relatively low despite the very consistent daylight hours (12 hours year round) and the very low angles of sunlight which results in the highest rates and amounts of precipitation on Earth . However, in this region, the copious amounts of evaporation are produced because of the convergence of Trade winds , a region known as the ITCZ. In addition to the large amount of fresh water returned directly to the sea surface by precipitation, the amazon and prevailing westerlies congo rivers which drain the precipitation that falls upon the South American and African continents, deliver more fresh water to the world Ocean than any other rivers on Earth.