Question

Indian Ocean basin surface water salinity varies between:

• A. 32 and 37 parts per thousand
• B. 22 and 27 parts per thousand
• C. 12 and 17 parts per thousand
• D. 2 and 7 parts per thousand

Hint:

Ocean surface salinity varies due to evaporation, rainfall, and river inflow—32 to 37 ppt is typical for the Indian Ocean.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the range of surface water salinity in the Indian Ocean basin, we consider typical oceanographic data. Salinity is commonly expressed in parts per thousand (ppt or ‰), which indicates the amount of salt in seawater.

• A healthy range for the ocean's salinity is generally between 30 and 40 ppt; however, specific regions exhibit varied salinity due to factors like evaporation, precipitation, river runoff, and ocean currents.
• In the Indian Ocean, the salinity is relatively high compared to some other oceans. This is influenced by the high evaporation rate, low precipitation, and limited river inflow compared to larger basins like the Atlantic or Pacific.
• Given these climatic and oceanographic conditions, the surface water salinity in the Indian Ocean typically varies between 32 and 37 parts per thousand. This range accounts for the saline conditions influenced by the aforementioned factors.

Therefore, the correct answer is: 32 and 37 parts per thousand