Liquid water covers most of the surface of our planet. This water comes in many forms, each with it's own special properties. Ocean water is the saltiest, with several ppm dissolved salts. These different types of water are found in different environments on Earth. The largest and most dramatic bodies of water are our oceans.
Seawater also contains lots of solutes in addition to salt.
The oceans are extremely important in regulating climate. Over half of the solar radiation absorbed by our planet is taken up by the oceans. This energy, once absorbed, is redistributed by ocean currents. The mass movement of water performed by the oceans plays a key role in the control of climate. Temperature and Salinity Figure 1.