Solubility of selected gases in the oceans

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Shipwrecks and Salvage‎ > ‎5. Rates of Corrosion‎ > ‎

Compare and explain the solubility of selected gases at increasing depths in the oceans[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px 0px 45px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]


  • As ocean depth decreases, temperature falls and pressure increases.
  • Thus, the solubility of gases is much greater at greater depths.
  • However, when ocean water is very deep, there is not much mixing of surface water with bottom water, and concentrations are unlikely to reach equilibrium values.
  • For oxygen and carbon dioxide, concentration is also affected by:
    • Rates of photosynthesis, which is confined to where light can penetrate.
    • Rates of respiration and decomposition, which increase with depth.
    • Formation and dissolution of calcium carbonate by marine organisms and local acidic environments respectively.
  • The net result for oxygen is that concentration decreases with depth, reaching a minimum at 500 to 800 metres, then increases lightly due to the inflow of cold, oxygen-rich currents.
  • The net result for carbon dioxide is that concentration increases with depth.

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