6 lines · 85 words · 0:28 read aloud
Why the Ocean Is Salty
1
Rivers are fresh. So why is the ocean salty?
2
It starts with rain. Rainwater is very slightly acidic, and it slowly breaks down rocks.
3
Rivers carry tiny amounts of those minerals, too little to taste, all the way to the sea.
4
Then the sun heats the ocean. Water evaporates, but the salt stays behind.
5
Repeat that for hundreds of millions of years, and the salt builds up.
6
Every glass of rain that falls on land is slowly salting the sea. Subscribe for the next question.
