Hi Percy, nice to hear from you again.
quote:
You say the rates of addition and removal of salt match, right?
If they match, then the amount of salt in the oceans does not change over time, right?
Therefore the amount of salt in the oceans cannot be a measure of the age of the oceans, right?
—Percy
No. I'm stating the fact that when inland seas evaporate, the water condensates into rain which only increases the rate of sodium being redeposited back into the oceans. The average rate is ~457 tons annually, if evaporation from inland seas increases the precipitation rate, then it would also increase the redeposition rate. Meaning, the oceans will still increase at an average rate regardless.
quote:
Bodies of water shrinking and eventually disappearing due to evaporation become so salty that only halophiles (organisms that require salty water) can survive. Fossil halophiles are of course found in salt deposits, see for example Origins of halophilic microorganisms in ancient salt deposits.
Diatoms and other marine macrofossils don't just evaporate with the water; they should leave marine signatures verifying them as ancient oceans. Many salt deposits are simply that and have never been dissolved into the ocean to start with.
Thanks.
Edited by Jason777, : Added Quote.
Edited by Jason777, : No reason given.