Dense water can remain on the ocean floor for extended periods, often ranging from decades to centuries. This is particularly true for deep ocean currents, which are part of the thermohaline circulation. The longevity of dense water on the ocean floor depends on various factors, including temperature, salinity, and overall ocean circulation patterns. Ultimately, it is part of a complex system that can lead to gradual mixing and eventual return to the surface.
more dense
The ocean is most dense towards the bottom of the sea. As the water in the ocean gets colder it gets more dense.
Water near the ocean floor moves from the poles to the equator primarily due to thermohaline circulation, which is driven by differences in temperature and salinity. Cold, dense water at the poles sinks and flows towards the equator, while warmer, less dense water rises and moves poleward at the surface. This global conveyor belt of ocean currents plays a crucial role in regulating climate and distributing heat across the planet. Additionally, the Coriolis effect influences the direction of these currents as they move along the ocean floor.
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.
Deep ocean currents are created by differences in water density. Cold or salty water is more dense and sinks, whereas warm or less salty water is less dense and rises. In polar regions, much of the ocean water is tied up in ice sheets. The salt remains in the liquid water, so the water in these areas is very salty as well as very cold. This water is consequently very dense and sinks. It is replaced by water from lower latitudes. The deep, dense water then moves slowly across the ocean floor and eventually rises in warmer latitudes. These currents are connected, and are sometimes called the ocean "conveyor belt." One circuit can take 1000 years to complete0_O
cold ocean water is more dense than warm water
This section of the ocean from floor to surface is called the water column.
Antarctic Bottom Water (ABW) is a dense, cold water mass that forms primarily around the Antarctic continental shelf, particularly in the Weddell Sea. It is created when sea ice forms, increasing the salinity and density of the surrounding water as the salt is expelled into the ocean. This dense water then sinks to the ocean floor and flows northward, contributing to global ocean circulation. ABW is crucial for regulating climate and transporting heat and nutrients in the deep ocean.
If water is evaporated salt remain in the ocean.
The water from a melted glacier is less dense than the water of the seas.
Deep ocean currents are created by differences in water density. Cold or salty water is more dense and sinks, whereas warm or less salty water is less dense and rises. In polar regions, much of the ocean water is tied up in ice sheets. The salt remains in the liquid water, so the water in these areas is very salty as well as very cold. This water is consequently very dense and sinks. It is replaced by water from lower latitudes. The deep, dense water then moves slowly across the ocean floor and eventually rises in warmer latitudes. These currents are connected, and are sometimes called the ocean "conveyor belt." One circuit can take 1000 years to complete0_O
deep ocean currents form by the differences in the density of ocean water