Salinity is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water. In general, salinity refers to the amount of mineral salts dissolved in water. In other words, Salinity is the buildup of salt in land and water to a degree that harms the natural and built environment. Salt that accumulates in soil can come from a number of sources like rain fall, weathering, Connate salt or Aeolian deposits.
Salinity has an impact on agricultural, pasture, and tree production by interfering with nitrogen absorption, lowering growth, and halting plant reproduction. Some ions (especially chloride) are harmful to plants, and when their concentration rises, the plant becomes poisoned and dies.
There are 2 main types of salinity namely primary salinity and secondary salinity.
Primary Salinity
Primary salinity occurs naturally in soils and waterways. Natural saline regions include salt lakes, salt pans, salt marshes, and salt flats.
Secondary Salinity
Secondary salinity is salting caused by human activity, most notably land development and agriculture. Irrigation and seawater intrusion are two common causes of secondary salinity.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the definition of salinity?
The amounts of salts in water or soils are referred to as “salinity.” Salinity is categorized into three types based on its cause: primary salinity (also known as natural salinity), secondary salinity (also known as dryland salinity), and tertiary salinity (also called irrigation salinity).
2. What is the weathering?
Weathering is the slow disintegration of rock near the surface by dissolving, wearing away, or breaking it down into progressively smaller pieces.
3. What is weathering and erosion?
Weathering and erosion are geological processes that contribute to the shaping of the Earth’s surface.
Weathering is the degradation of rocks, soils, and minerals as a result of direct interaction with the Earth’s atmosphere. In contrast, erosion is the downhill or down-slope movement of solids (soil, mud, rock, and other particles) induced by current agents such as wind, water, or ice responding to gravity or by living organisms.
Please refer to the full article “Weathering vs erosion”.
4. Physical weathering definition?
Physical weathering, also known as mechanical weathering, is caused by the impact of changing temperatures on rocks, causing the rock to break apart. Water might sometimes aid with the procedure.
5. Chemical weathering definition?
Chemical weathering occurs when rainfall interacts with mineral grains in rocks, resulting in the formation of new minerals (clays) and soluble salts. When the water is somewhat acidic, these processes are more prevalent.
6. Difference between soft and hard water?
The term “soft water” refers to water that has been purified to remove dissolved calcium, iron, and magnesium salts, leaving only sodium ions.
Hard water, on the other hand, is water that has a high concentration of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium.
Please refer to the full article, “Difference between soft and hard water”.
7. What is potable water?
Potable water is defined as water fit for human consumption (i.e., water that can be used for drinking or cooking). The term implies that the water is both drinkable and safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Specific Gravity of Water
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