how old is the earth?

[goku]

if the earth is billions of years old, why is the ocean still getting saltier?

[Qfwfq]

Because it still rains on the mountain tops.

[Fishteacher73]

The oceans oare not of a uniform salinity. There are masive currents driven by these variances that cycle the oceans and help drive evrything from weather paterns to ocen currents.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by goku

if the earth is billions of years old, why is the ocean still getting saltier?

Which one?

[goku]

it's simple, rain collects salt and other minerals then runs into the ocean (or oceans you nitpicker).
the sun evaporates the water leaving the salt and minerals behind.
how long has this been happening?

[Tormod]

I was not nitpicking. While the seas are salty the salinity varies. Also, giant fresh water lakes are *not* salty, and fjord arms which received a lot of smelted glacier water in the summer is brackish and almost fresh (I spend my summer holidays next to one of those).

The salinity process has gone on for a few billion years. Originally oceans were freshwater.

Lakes are freshwater because they are mostly the result of a ground cycle, whereas oceans are salty because the salt is deposited by rivers.

[goku]

how do you know it has been happening for a few billion years?
was you there to see it start?
do you say billions of years because scientists say billions of years?
did you know that one billion years is ruffly 8,760,000,000,000 hours?

[rockytriton]

sheesh, I think the WRONG people are spreading the word about these forums to their friends....

[Boerseun]

Originally Posted by goku

how do you know it has been happening for a few billion years?
was you there to see it start?
do you say billions of years because scientists say billions of years?
did you know that one billion years is ruffly 8,760,000,000,000 hours?

Goku - everyone here is entitled to an opinion.

If you don't agree with the 'billions of years' being held as the accepted age for planet Earth, give us scientific evidence to support your view.

Baseless statements being nothing more than unverifiable personal beliefs and opinions belongs somewhere else. Maybe you can open up a thread in the 'Strange Claims' forum, something to the effect of 'Earth is six thousand years old because I say so'.

The best geologic evidence at hand places Earth's age in the 4.5 billion year age bracket. Go read up some.

[rockytriton]

Here's your scientific proof:



I think the baptist churches are spreading the news of science-forums.com (sorry IrishEyes)!