COSEE Ocean Systems: News
Why the sea is salty
Description: Seen from space, the Earth is a pale blue dot. Two-thirds of its surface is covered by water. But the vast majority of that water-around 97%-is salty. Of the 3% that is fresh water-which is the kind humanity needs to drink, wash, make things and (most of all) produce food-about two-thirds is locked up in glaciers, ice caps and permafrost. That leaves less than 1% of the planet's water easily accessible in rivers, lakes or aquifers. In short, the salinity of the oceans means useful water is scarce, while the less useful kind is abundant. So why is the sea salty? [Source: The Economist]
URL: http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/01/economist-explains-17
Availability: Full Text
Source: The Economist
Publish Date: 1/24/2017
Reading Level: Basic
Page Length:  

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