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The thermohaline circulation is driven by surface heat (insolaration) and freshwater flows. These change the density of the ocean's water and gravity does the work.
The term thermohaline circulation ( THC ) refers to the part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes
I bElive this is recurring to the mixing that may happen in the epliminion or hypoliminion but does not mix into the metaliminion. For example in the epi waves might cause a circulation
Gravity
Temperature and salinity drive ocean circulation by altering seawater density. Warm, fresh water is significantly less dense than cold salty water and will therefore rise to the top in the ocean. Any process that alters temperature or salinity (such as rain, sea ice formation or seasonal variation) will change the density of the water and allow it to move in the water column, causing circulation of water on a global scale. This is known as thermohaline circulation. Because things such as rainfall and temperature tend to be relatively constant in a given area over a long period of time, a set current of water known as the global conveyor belt has arisen. It plays an incredibly important role in heat transfer over the earth.
Thermohaline circulation brings oxygen rich water to the deep ocean.
Thermohaline circulation is also called overturning circulation. It is driven by density. The time scale for thermohaine is 1000 years.
The thermohaline circulation is driven by surface heat (insolaration) and freshwater flows. These change the density of the ocean's water and gravity does the work.
It is gravity that drives thermohaline circulation. It's a gravity current. We usually apply the term thermohaline circulation to the deep ocean currents that are driven by gravity. Colder water or water that has a higher salt content than other water is more dense, and gravity will act on it to pull it "down" deeper. It will displace warmer or less salty water and move to greater depths. This sets the stage for a deep ocean current we call a thermohaline expressway. Use the links below for more information on gravity currents (which are sometimes called density currents)._______________________sflo:I would say this answer is limited in explaining what drives thermohaline circulation. Changes in density certainly affect circulation, particularly when water emerges from the deep or submerges to depths (upwelling and downwelling), but the effects of "gravity" on water masses of varying densities aren't a driver of circulation, per se. I would like to point that within the "thermohaline circulation," "thermo-" and "haline" are both components of the name. Thus in a more elemental manner, it makes more sense to explain this phenomenon by temperature and salinity differences, as well as the resulting changes in density, rather than merely "gravity."For a great snap-shot of our current understanding (or rather lack-therof) of the thermohaline circulation, what drives it, and how it affects or is affected by climate, please look-up:"Thermohaline circulation: The current climate" Nature421, 699 (13 February 2003) | doi:10.1038/421699a == ==
Global Ocean Conveyor
thermohaline circulation
The term thermohaline circulation ( THC ) refers to the part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes
The thermohaline circulation is a term for the global density-driven circulation of the oceans. Derivation is from thermo- for heat and -haline for salt, which together determine the density of sea water
Yes look up lord sterling
thermohaline
Movement of water due to its high temperature and its salt content
Deep ocean circulation(90% of ocean water) is caused by differences in temperature, salinity and suspended load. It is referred to as "Thermohaline"- meaning heat and salt- circulation.