Oceanography: Ocean Salinity and Gases

Ocean water is salty due to dissolved salts, primarily sodium chloride. Salinity varies by location, being lower in the tropics and higher at the poles. Salts originate from land materials washed into the ocean. Over 90 elements, including oxygen, are found in seawater. Fish use gills to extract oxygen from water.

What role does evaporation play in the salinity of ocean water?

What are some other elements found in ocean water besides salt?