Some regions of the ocean have become saltier while the salt density in other areas has decreased over the past fifty years, and the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wants to investigate this strange phenomenon.
NASA scientists have boarded a vessel to explore the high-salinity areas in the Atlantic Ocean and study the factors causing variations in ocean salinity across different regions, according to Livescience.
Salinity in some ocean areas has increased over the past 50
years, while many other areas have become “fresher.”
“Most of us believe that climate change is the culprit behind the differing salinity levels in ocean waters,” stated Ray Schmitt, a member of the research team. He is a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the United States, speaking before boarding the vessel on September 6.
The ocean plays a crucial role in the water cycle, with 86% of water vapor and 78% of precipitation occurring over the ocean, according to NASA data. By monitoring ocean salinity, scientists can gain a better understanding of the global water cycle.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s vessel docking to take researchers to the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean on September 6. (Photo: NASA)
“Climate change may accelerate the water cycle, but current computer models do not quantify the impact of climate change on the water cycle over the past 50 years,” Schmitt commented.
In addition to climate change, winds and other factors may also contribute to increasing or decreasing ocean salinity.
“We have a lot of questions, and everyone hopes we can answer them during the upcoming expedition,” Schmitt said.
The research team will attach various instruments to the vessel and deploy sensors on the ocean surface. Researchers from Europe will also join the team in the central Atlantic to collect data.
