Why is the Sea Salty and Does it Matter?

A mouthful of water while swimming in a lake is unpleasant but nothing compared to the same situation during a swim in the ocean. A sudden mouthful seawater leaves you gasping for a glass of water to wash the salty taste from your mouth. But have you ever stopped to consider why the sea is salty? In this article, we will dive into the realm of ocean salinity (salt concentration) and show that there is more to it than you may have thought. Where does the ocean’s salt come from? What is it made of and how is salinity measured? Finally, why should the saltiness of the ocean interest us at all?