This
very large, slow current
is called the thermohaline circulation because it is caused by temperature and salinity (haline) variations. This animation shows one of the major regions where this pumping occurs, the North Atlantic Ocean around Greenland, Iceland, and the North Sea.
Is thermohaline circulation convection?
The thermohaline circulation consists of: Deep water formation: the sinking of water masses, closely associated with (but not to be confused with)
convection
, which is a vertical mixing process, [2]). … The thermohaline circulation contributes only roughly 20% to the Gulf Stream flow.)
What is the thermohaline current called?
The thermohaline circulation is sometimes called
the ocean conveyor belt, the great ocean conveyor, or the global conveyor belt
. On occasion, it is used to refer to the meridional overturning circulation (often abbreviated as MOC).
What is current circulation?
Introduction. Ocean circulation is
the large, connected system of water movements in the oceans
. It involves both surface and deep currents. Surface currents are generated by wind and an uneven distribution of heat between equatorial regions and regions farther north and south of the tropics.
What is thermohaline circulation?
Thermohaline circulation plays an
important role in supplying heat to the polar regions
. Therefore, it influences the rate of sea ice formation near the poles, which in turn affects other aspects of the climate system (such as the albedo, and thus solar heating, at high latitudes).
What is an example of thermohaline circulation?
Thermohaline circulation begins in the Earth’s polar regions.
When ocean water in these areas gets very cold, sea ice forms
. … This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In the Earth’s polar regions ocean water gets very cold, forming sea ice.
What happens if thermohaline circulation stops?
– If global warming shuts down the thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean, the result could be
catastrophic climate change
. … Between Greenland and Norway, the water cools, sinks into the deep ocean, and begins flowing back to the south.
Which current is the least dense?
AAIW means
Antarctic Intermediate Water
. It originates in the oceans north of Antarctica at about 55°S latitude and descends down below the surface waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It sits atop all the other thermohaline currents, which means it must be the least dense.
When did thermohaline circulation begin?
The theory for the thermohaline circulation pattern was first proposed by Henry Stommel and Arnold Arons in
1960
. Some scientists believe that global warming could shut down this ocean current system by creating an influx of freshwater from melting ice sheets and glaciers into the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean.
What is a deep current?
Deep currents, also known as thermohaline circulation,
result from differences in water density
. These currents occur when cold, dense water at the poles sinks. Surface water flows to replace sinking water, causing a conveyor belt-like effect of water circulating around the globe on a 1000-year journey.
Where does thermohaline circulation begin?
Summary:
The oceans
are mostly composed of warm salty water near the surface over cold, less salty water in the ocean depths. These two regions don’t mix except in certain special areas, which creates a large slow current called the thermohaline circulation.
How long does thermohaline circulation take?
Lecture notes from one of Columbia University’s 2007 “The Climate System” class suggests this process takes
between 100-1000 years
. This paper says Thermohaline Circulation overturns deep water every 600 years or so.
How is thermohaline circulation measured?
Measuring
seawater temperature
and salinity distribution is the chief method of studying the deep-flow patterns. … It then spreads slowly into the rest of the ocean. Other water must replace the surface water that sinks. This sets up the thermohaline circulation.
What are the 2 types of ocean currents?
There are two main types of ocean currents:
currents driven mainly by wind and currents mainly driven by density differences
. Density depends on temperature and salinity of the water. Cold and salty water is dense and will sink.
What is the circulation of ocean?
Ocean Circulation is
the large scale movement of waters in the ocean basins
. It is a key regulator of climate by storing and transporting heat, carbon, nutrients and freshwater all around the world.
What is world’s ocean circulation?
Global Ocean Circulation. Global Ocean Circulation. Ocean circulation is
the large scale movement of waters in the ocean basins
. Winds drive surface circulation, and the cooling and sinking of waters in the polar regions drive deep circulation. Surface circulation carries the warm upper waters poleward from the tropics …
