Heat
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.
Evaporation and condensation transport water from the ocean into a cloud.
Atmospheric forcing, such as wind and temperature changes, can affect ocean circulation by influencing the movement of surface waters and the formation of ocean currents. These forces can drive the mixing of water masses, impact the distribution of heat and nutrients, and play a role in shaping the overall circulation patterns of the ocean.
Deep water formation is the process by which surface waters in the ocean cool and become denser, sinking to the depths of the ocean. This sinking of dense water drives the global thermohaline circulation, which plays a key role in distributing heat and nutrients around the world's oceans. Deep water formation is crucial for ocean circulation and climate regulation.
The shape of ocean basins influences the direction and flow of ocean currents through the Coriolis effect. Density differences in ocean water, caused by temperature and salinity variations, drive vertical mixing and circulation patterns, such as thermohaline circulation, which play a crucial role in redistributing heat and nutrients around the globe.
Global Conveyor Belt
Ekman transport is the net movement of water in the ocean resulting from the balance between wind-driven surface currents and the Coriolis effect. When wind blows across the surface of the ocean, it drags the water along, but due to the Earth's rotation, the water is deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This results in a spiral motion in the water column, causing the surface water to move at an angle to the wind direction, leading to a net transport of water typically at a right angle to the wind. Ekman transport plays a crucial role in ocean circulation and the distribution of nutrients and heat in the ocean.
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 Atlantic thermohaline circulation, also known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), is a large system of ocean currents that transport warm, salty water northward in the Atlantic Ocean and colder, fresher water southward. It plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by distributing heat around the globe. Disruption of the AMOC can have significant impacts on regional and global climate patterns.
The current with the greatest transport of water is the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). It encircles Antarctica and plays a crucial role in global ocean circulation. The ACC transports an estimated 150 million cubic meters of water per second, making it the largest ocean current by volume. This current significantly influences climate and marine ecosystems worldwide.
Heat.
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.
Evaporation and condensation transport water from the ocean into a cloud.
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.