Why is the sea salty?

After a long year of hard work, you decide to go to the beach and finally relax under the sun. You see the beautiful blue sea water and decide to take a nice swim. SURPRISE! The water is salty and your eyes are burning! Why?! WHY?! Why Is seawater so salty?! 

There are many factors that contribute to the sea being saltier than your great-aunt on Thanksgiving. One reason has to do with the combination of rain, carbon dioxide and land minerals. When it rains, the rain captures the carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere. This combination reacts with land, soil, and rocks by washing off some minerals into the sea. In the sea, some of these minerals are used by the living organisms underwater. However, some minerals are not used and they have been accumulating for millions of years! 

Other factors such as underwater volcanoes and vents in the sea floor release additional minerals into the water. Interestingly, seawater can become too salty to sustain life. If water evaporates the concentration of minerals increases making the water too salty. Besides microorganisms, larger forms of life, such as fish and algae are not able to survive. Such is the case of the Dead Sea, water has been evaporating and it can no longer sustain life in its beautiful turquoise waters. 

Next time you go on a holiday to the beach, remember to bring fresh water to drink and goggles to prevent that annoying burn from the salty sea water! 

By Dr. Karen Ventura