thermohaline
Deep ocean circulation
Thermohaline describes ocean circulation driven by differences in water temperature and salinity.
Cold, salty water is denser and sinks, while warmer, fresher water rises, creating global currents that distribute heat around the planet: The thermohaline circulation acts as a conveyor belt moving water between ocean basins.
The term combines thermo- (heat) and haline (salt).
Mechanism that transports items
- overturningCausing to flip
- meridionalOf southern direction
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- deepwaterOf oceanic depths
abyssal · upwelling · downwelling · ventilation · sinking · flux · mixing · advection
Rapid temperature-change layer
- haloclineSharp saltiness change layer
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- layeringForming successive strata
- mixingCombining into one mass
vertical · stability · gradient · convection · overturn · seasonal · permanent
Water saturated with sodium
- seawaterSalty ocean fluid
- brackishMildly salty water
- haloclineSharp saltiness change layer
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
evaporation · precipitation · hypersaline · outflow · meltwater
Rapid temperature-change layer
Ice sheet spreading process
- interglacialEpoch between major freezes
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
conveyor
Mechanism that transports items
- overturningCausing to flip
- meridionalOf southern direction
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
deepwater · abyssal · upwelling · downwelling · ventilation · sinking · flux · mixing · advection · diffusion
thermocline
Rapid temperature-change layer
mixing · vertical · stability · gradient · convection · overturn · seasonal · permanent
brine
Water saturated with sodium
density · evaporation · precipitation · hypersaline · outflow · meltwater
thermocline
Rapid temperature-change layer
glaciation
Ice sheet spreading process
- interglacialEpoch between major freezes
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
temperature, thermal, thermometer, saltiness, halogen, thermally, halite, thermodynamics, thermo