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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.

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What causes 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


What is another name for thermohaline?

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.


What two characteristics of water combine to form a thermohaline?

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.


Explain what thremohaline circulation is and how it works?

Thermohaline circulation is a global oceanic circulation driven by differences in temperature and salinity. Cold, dense water sinks in polar regions and flows toward the equator, while warmer, less dense water flows back towards the poles near the ocean surface. This process helps regulate Earth's climate by transporting heat and nutrients around the world.


What is the Atlantic thermohaline circulation?

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.

Related Questions

Surface ocean circulation is also called thermohaline circulation?

Thermohaline circulation is also called overturning circulation. It is driven by density. The time scale for thermohaine is 1000 years.


What do you call deep ocean circulation driven largely by variations in water temperature and salinity?

thermohaline


How can deep density driven currents affect earths climate?

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.


What is thermohaline circulation?

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.


What causes 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


Another name for the thermohaline current is?

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


What drives deep ocean currents are driven?

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.


How can thermohaline circulation regulate climate?

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 == ==


What does thermo mean in the word in thermohaline?

"Thermo" in "thermohaline" refers to heat or temperature. "Thermohaline" describes ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity.


How do you use north Atlantic current in a sentence?

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


How is thermohaline circulation influenced by salinity and temperature?

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


What is another name for thermohaline circulation?

Global Ocean Conveyor