Given below are two statements:

Statement I: Maximum salinity is seen at the Tropic of Cancer and the reason may be low rainfall, high evaporation, and high atmospheric pressure.

Statement II: Minimum salinity is seen in the temperate zone because of excess of evaporation and larger supplies of fresh water.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Statement I is correct.

• The maximum salinity in the oceans is found near the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
• This is due to high evaporation rates, low precipitation, and high atmospheric pressure in these regions.
• The subtropical high-pressure belts cause descending dry air, increasing evaporation and thus raising salinity levels.

Statement II is incorrect.

• Minimum salinity is not found in the temperate zone, but rather in polar and equatorial regions.
• In the polar regions, salinity is low due to melting ice, which adds fresh water and dilutes ocean salinity.
• In equatorial regions, high rainfall and river discharge lower salinity.
• The temperate zones actually have moderate salinity due to a balance of precipitation and evaporation.

Thus, Statement I is true, and Statement II is false.

Information Booster:

• Highest salinity (37-39 PPT) is observed in subtropical regions (Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) due to high evaporation and low precipitation.
• Lowest salinity (< 30 PPT) is observed in polar regions due to melting ice and in equatorial regions due to high rainfall and river discharge.
• Temperate zones (mid-latitudes) have moderate salinity as they experience both evaporation and precipitation in balanced amounts.