What Are Thermohaline Currents?
Thermohaline currents refer to the currents of the ocean, specifically those that are created by variations in temperature and salt content. These two factors are two of the greatest forces behind the variation in water density, and different densities of water end up flowing in different directions. This creates a large loop of water circulation which some people refer to as a conveyor belt, due to the circular and perpetual nature of the water circulation. What Causes Thermohaline Currents? A number of factors contribute to the global conveyor belt of ocean movement. Wind has the largest effect on surface water, although a much smaller effect once you get a few feet below the surface. The tides also affect oceanic movement to some degree. However, the main causes of thermohaline currents are the fluctuations in water density controlled by salinity and changing heat. Water expands with heat, with the result that warmer water takes up more volume for the same mass, and thus becomes les
