Thermohaline circulation

• thermohaline circulation is the global oceanic flow that is driven by variations in temperature and salinity
• thermohaline circulation is the primary mechanism for distributing heat across the planet
• thermohaline circulation moves warm water from the equator towards the poles and colder water from the poles towards the equator, this creates the circulation effect.
• transfer of hear influences weather patterns, ocean temperatures and wind currents
• colder deep currents e.g. North Atlantic deep water help to sequester CO2 and greenhouse gases this helps to mitigate climate change.
• areas of high salinity cause denser water that will sink, this drives thermohaline circulation
• melting of the polar ice reduces salinity and density of sea water, this can slow or halt the thermohaline circulation
• thermohaline circulation also affects marine life, nutrients are brought up from the deep during up-welling events, this helps support marine ecosystems
• circulation aids in distributing marine species around earth, this helps and contributes to biodiversity
• modern technologies such as satellite data and oceanographic buoys provide insights into how thermohaline circulation is affected by climate change