Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe SEA VIEW Quick now, what the difference between an ocean and a sea? Advertisement A sea is a name given to the salt-water areas on the margins of the oceans. An ocean is an interconnecting great body of water. How salty is it? How about 3.3 to 3.7-percent. The amount varies from place to place. For instance, the Arctic region has less salt in the water (due to the melting icebergs of fresh water) while the Persian Gulf or Red Sea has more salt in the water. This brings us to the Dead Sea. No, Jerry Garcia is not there. The Dead Sea, located between Israel and Jordan, is the lowest body of water (elevation-wise) on the Earth's surface. As such, any surface water that flows into it has no outflow. As the water evaporates, dissolved minerals remain behind. You guessed it -- the primary dissolved mineral is salt. The Dead Sea has a typical 25-percent salt content. Nothing can live in that much salt, save maybe that one creature from that classic "Star Trek" episode that derived its nourishment FROM salt. SEA BLUE Why is the sea blue? Hmmm? The best theory (and there is no shortage on them) we have seen is: Advertisement a. sunlight hits saltwater that's at least 10-feet in depth b. the sunlight is composed of white light that contains various wave-lengths, including infra-red and red c. ah! but the blue light is least absorbed by the water, hence the blue wavelengths are reflected out of the water. d. bottom line: the water acts like a filter reflecting blue light waves and absorbing all others. Send your ideas and comments to [email protected]
