• Question: Why doesn't the ocean freez when it's winter ?

    Asked by Yusufmalik786 to Ajay, Kate, Kuntal, Pip, Reka on 16 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Reka Nagy

      Reka Nagy answered on 16 Nov 2016:

      Because the oceans are salty, they do not freeze as soon as the temperature drops below 0 degrees Celsius. In most places in the world, it doesn’t get cold enough in winter for the oceans to freeze – but in some places in the arctic and antarctic, it does get quite cold, cold enough for all water there to turn to ice, even the water in the oceans.

Comments

  • Photo: ammu

    ammu commented on :

    what if the ocean connect to a hotter place ?

    • Photo: Reka

      Reka commented on :

      Good point! If there’s something like a geothermal vent or underwater volcano at the bottom of the ocean, that will keep the bottom of the ocean warm enough so it won’t freeze. Also, freezing happens from the top down, and as the salty water freezes, the salt is forced out, further down – so the more of the ocean freezes, the saltier the water underneath it becomes, and as I already mentioned, the saltier the water, the lower its freezing point! So at the bottom of the ocean you are unlikely to find ice, and more likely to find water at around 0-3 degrees Celsius!

  • Photo: ammu

    ammu commented on :

    thanks reka