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
Another name for thermohaline circulation is the ocean conveyor belt. This circulation pattern involves the movement of water around the world's oceans based on differences in temperature and salinity.
Deep ocean currents are primarily driven by two main forces: thermohaline circulation and wind. Thermohaline circulation is influenced by variations in water density, which is affected by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). As surface water cools and becomes saltier, it sinks, creating a global conveyor belt of deep ocean currents. Additionally, wind-driven surface currents can also influence deeper currents through the process of upwelling and downwelling.
Thermohaline circulation is driven by differences in temperature and salinity in the ocean, which affect water density. Warm, less saline water is less dense and tends to rise, while cold, saline water is denser and sinks. This creates a global conveyor belt of ocean currents that plays a crucial role in regulating climate, distributing heat, and supporting marine ecosystems. The interplay of these factors helps drive the large-scale movement of water across the world's oceans.
The two characteristics of water that combine to form a thermohaline current are temperature and salinity. As water becomes cold and more saline, it becomes denser and sinks to the ocean floor, driving the vertical circulation of the ocean known as the thermohaline circulation.
Thermohaline circulation is also called overturning circulation. It is driven by density. The time scale for thermohaine is 1000 years.
thermohaline
Deep density driven currents, such as the thermohaline circulation, play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate by transporting heat and nutrients around the globe. Disruption of these currents can impact regional climate patterns, leading to changes in temperature and precipitation. For example, a weakening of the thermohaline circulation could result in cooler temperatures in certain regions as heat is not distributed as efficiently.
Thermohaline circulation is a global pattern of ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salt concentration. It plays a crucial role in distributing heat around the planet and regulating climate. This circulation helps transport nutrients and oxygen throughout the ocean, influencing marine ecosystems.
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
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.
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 == ==
"Thermo" in "thermohaline" refers to heat or temperature. "Thermohaline" describes ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity.
The "north Atlantic current" is very strong.I really like the "north Atlantic current."The "north Atlantic current" is driven by the global thermohaline circulation (THC), it is wind driven
A: It is driven by density gradients, which are affected by salinity and temperature, with cold water and water with higher salt concentrations being more dense
Global Ocean Conveyor