Consider the characteristics of marine and freshwater ecosystems. It is an exceptionally cold winter and water all over the Earth is freezing. We would expect the extreme drop in temperatures to have the least effect on the ocean ecosystems because of what factors? All BUT ONE could apply.

A) salt concentration

B) sunlight at the equator

C) volume of the body of water

D) the fact that it is moving water

Water molecules form crystals while they freeze. Na + and Cl- ions of the salt are in the path of the water molecules, making it difficult to rearrange them in crystals. This means that the salt water of the ocean remains in the liquid state for longer when the temperature decreases.

For salt water to freeze, the temperature needs to be well below the melting temperature of pure water which is zero degrees Celsius (0 ° C). In addition, the volume of water in the ocean decreases chances of freezing and sunlight at the equator decreases the freezing point and increases the boiling point.

However, the movement of ocean waters does not interfere with the freezing of these waters.