The Mediterranean Sea is saltier than parts of the Atlantic because evaporation exceeds precipitation. Which statement best supports this?

The Mediterranean Sea is saltier than parts of the Atlantic because evaporation exceeds precipitation. Which statement best supports this?

• A. The ratio of evaporation to precipitation is very high
• B. Freshwater input is greater than evaporation
• C. Currents bring in large amounts of freshwater
• D. Precipitation dominates the area

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that salinity is governed by the water budget: evaporation removes water and leaves salts behind, while precipitation and freshwater input add water that can dilute those salts. When evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation, more water is lost as vapor than is gained as fresh water, so the remaining water becomes saltier. The statement that the ratio of evaporation to precipitation is very high directly captures this imbalance, showing why the Mediterranean ends up saltier. If freshwater input were greater than evaporation, or if currents brought in large amounts of freshwater, or if precipitation dominated, those situations would dilute the water and reduce salinity rather than raise it.

The main idea is that salinity is governed by the water budget: evaporation removes water and leaves salts behind, while precipitation and freshwater input add water that can dilute those salts. When evaporation greatly exceeds precipitation, more water is lost as vapor than is gained as fresh water, so the remaining water becomes saltier. The statement that the ratio of evaporation to precipitation is very high directly captures this imbalance, showing why the Mediterranean ends up saltier.

If freshwater input were greater than evaporation, or if currents brought in large amounts of freshwater, or if precipitation dominated, those situations would dilute the water and reduce salinity rather than raise it.