Question

Explain the changes occurring in the temperature of sea water according to the depth.

Answer 1

• While most of the sunrays radiate back from the surface of the sea, some of them penetrate to certain depths in the water.
• As a result, the intensity of sunrays decreases with increasing depth.
• The temperature decreases up to 2000 m depth.
• After 2000m, the temperature of the seawater is uniform everywhere.
• It is around 4°C everywhere, from the equatorial regions to the polar areas.
• Temperature reduces only up to 4°C according to depth, and therefore, the water at greater depths does not freeze.
• The temperature of the seawater changes rapidly with depth in the equatorial areas. The difference in temperature is less in polar areas.
• There is also a difference between open seas and landlocked seas. In low latitudes, because the salinity of the landlocked seas is higher, the temperature of the landlocked seas is higher than that of the open seas.