CTS Guide: Water in the Earth System, pp 216-217- Section IV Research Summaries

Oceans

• Feller (2007) identified several common misconceptions related to ocean water, including: (1) the ocean is salty because of deep sea vents, (2) all icebergs are made of saltwater, (3) the salty ocean is not linked to land’s freshwater cycle. Also identified was the commonly held idea that the three big oceans are not connected and each acts alone.

• Junior high students were given the statement: “Most of the water in our planet is the salty water in the ocean and is not available for humans to use.” Of those surveyed, 12.6% agreed, 23.6% were uncertain, and 63.8% disagreed (Ben-zvi- Assarf and Orion 2005).

Freshwater