• Question: Why don't the oceans freeze?

    Asked by meg123 to Amy, Karen, Sarah, Will on 20 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by csubero20, issy13, niamhcarr.
    • Photo: Sarah Martin

      Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Hi meg,

      they do! It’s called sea ice, and it’s all over the North Pole and all around Antarctica in the winter!

      🙂 Sarah

    • Photo: Karen Reed

      Karen Reed answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      Sometimes they do, as Sarah’s pointed out.

      But also the presence of salt and other things in the see reduces the freezing point of the water – so its got to be colder for it to freeze – that’s why seas around the UK don’t freeze when lakes and ponds do.

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