• Question: the deeper in the ocean does the water get colder

    Asked by iamsofast on 20 Sep 2021.
    • Photo: Yueng Lenn

      Yueng Lenn answered on 20 Sep 2021:

      In most places on the globe the answer is yes, because the colder the water, the denser it is and so warmer lighter water lies on top. In the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean, however, you can get warmer water below the surface. This is because at very low temperatures close to the freezing point of water, it’s the salt content rather than temperature that sets seawater density. And warm (not really, call this about 4 deg Celsius) salty water from the lower latitudes can sink below colder (-2 deg. Celsius) but very fresh water at the surface in the polar oceans.

    • Photo: Giles Strong

      Giles Strong answered on 21 Sep 2021:

      Generally, yes, however in some regions of the ocean floor, there are hydrothermal vents, where heat coming from under the Earth’s crust is released. Due to the immense pressure the water is under, it’s temperature can rise into the several hundred degree Celsius. The vents also bring with them many different minerals, and certain species of bacteria and sea creatures (extremophiles) have adapted to live close to the vents.

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