What causes salinity and what are some other facts about it?

1916	The technical term for saltiness in the ocean is salinity, from the fact that halides - chloride specifically - are the most abundant anions in the mix of dissolved elements. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinity Apr 28 08, 2:52 AM

BRY2K

One of the important characteristics of water is that it is a superb solvent. This means that other substances such as minerals can dissolve quickly and easily into it. The ocean contains a soup of the many different minerals found across the surface of the Earth, all dissolved into the water. These minerals make up about 3.5% of the total volume of the Earth’s oceans. By far, the most common mineral found dissolved in sea water, is salt. Have you ever tasted ocean water? What does it taste like? Because salt is the most common mineral in the waters of the oceans, it is no surprise that the ocean tastes salty. In terms of soil, the prime cause of human-caused salinization is irrigation. River water used in irrigation contains salts. All irrigation water, however 'sweet', contains salts that remain behind in the soil after the water has evaporated. The secondary cause of salinzation is that irrigation can cause a rise in the water table which can prevent salts in irrigated water from dispersing. Irrigation causes enormous changes to the natural water balance of irrigated lands. http://www.kidsgeo.com/geography-for-kids/0141-ocean-salinity.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinity_control Apr 28 08, 3:49 AM

McGruff

Question #95137. icarus67 asks: What causes salinity? 1916 answers: Salinity is caused by the rising of water tables through the process of 'movement of water in the soil'. Read more here: http://www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au/repositories/files/Salinity%20(pg4).pdf Apr 28 08, 3:57 AM Apr 28 08, 7:56 AM