Author Question: Define the thermohaline circulation. What are the processes that drive the circulation of the deep ... (Read 88 times)

roselinechinyere27m · **on:** Jul 14, 2018

Define the thermohaline circulation. What are the processes that drive the circulation of the deep oceans?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What is upwelling? Where does upwelling occur?

What will be an ideal response?

T4T · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 14, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Because deep-ocean circulation depends on temperature and salinity, this circulation is referred to as thermohaline circulation (thermo is Greek for heat, and haline comes from the Greek hals, for salt). In the deep oceans, horizontal changes in density are small, whereas vertical changes can be larger. But the densest water is at the bottom, so the structure is very stable. Consequently, the movement of water through the deep ocean is relatively slow.

Answer to Question 2

Where divergence occurs at the surface, water must rise from below to replace it. Water at depth is cooler than water at the surface. The rising of cooler water to the surface to replace warm, divergent surface water is referred to as upwelling.