Water Chemistry

Water at the surface of the ocean can be starkly different from water at the bottom, and not just different in temperature! Water can change in salinity, density, and dissolved nutrients like oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates.

Water in the ocean makes distinct layers. These layers maintain their unique characteristics because of a sharp change in temperature (thermocline), salinity (halocline) and density (pycnocline). This creates a barrier that prevents mixing of layers