Heat.
The ocean serves as the major source for evaporation of water back into atmospheric circulation. At the poles, they are also a source of fresh water as sea ice, but this does not contribute significantly to the production of water resources.
Igneous rock is transported by wind or moving water until they are deposited in other regions where they settle in layers.
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 == ==
Carbon Dioxide dissolves in ocean water. Plants in the ocean use the carbon dioxide dissolved in the ocean water.
Oceanographers can use temperature and salinity data to assess water density, which is crucial for understanding ocean circulation patterns and stratification. This information helps in predicting climate change impacts, as variations in temperature and salinity influence weather patterns and marine ecosystems. Additionally, it aids in identifying habitats for marine life and monitoring changes in ocean health. Overall, these measurements are essential for modeling ocean behavior and its interactions with the atmosphere.
By using information about the temperature and salinity of ocean water, oceanographers can determine the density, circulation patterns, and mixing processes within the ocean. This information is crucial for understanding how heat and nutrients are transported throughout the ocean, which in turn influences climate and marine ecosystems.
The driving force of deep-ocean circulation is primarily the sinking of cold, dense water at high latitudes due to its higher density. This process is known as thermohaline circulation, where temperature and salinity differences create variations in water density, causing water masses to sink and drive the global ocean circulation.
Current
Deep water ocean current
The Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in deep ocean circulation, particularly through the formation of dense water masses like Arctic Bottom Water (ABW) and Greenland Sea Deep Water. These cold, dense waters sink and contribute to the global thermohaline circulation, influencing the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Additionally, the inflow of warmer, saltier water from the Atlantic, such as the North Atlantic Current, affects the overall dynamics of deep ocean circulation in the region.
About 70% of the precipitation that falls on the land originates from the oceans. This water evaporates from the ocean surface, forms clouds, and is transported by atmospheric circulation patterns to eventually fall as rain or snow over land areas.
Heat energy is transferred throughout the global ocean primarily through the process of convection, where warmer water rises to the surface and cooler water sinks. This creates large-scale ocean circulation patterns that help distribute heat around the Earth. Additionally, heat can also be transported horizontally through ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream.
Thermohaline circulation is the process of cold water at the poles creeping along the ocean floor. It meets with north and south polar water creates a dawdling subsurface circulation.
The phenomenon you are describing is known as ocean circulation or thermohaline circulation. This process is driven by differences in temperature and salinity in the water, which create density variations that cause the water to move. The circulation helps distribute heat across the ocean, influencing climate and weather patterns. A specific component of this is the "ocean conveyor belt," which refers to the large-scale movement of water that connects different ocean basins.
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.
Salt is dissolved from the earth and transported by rivers in seas/oceans.
Salts are dissolved from the earth and transported by rivers in oceans.