Why does a deep cold current sink to the bottom?

Why does a deep cold current sink to the bottom?

These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water’s density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline circulation. As the seawater gets saltier, its density increases, and it starts to sink.

Which process causes cold water to sink to the bottom of the ocean?

The ocean conveyor gets its “start” in the Norwegian Sea, where warm water from the Gulf Stream heats the atmosphere in the cold northern latitudes. This loss of heat to the atmosphere makes the water cooler and denser, causing it to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Why do deep water currents sink?

Density-Driven Currents Unlike the wind-driven surface currents, deep water currents are driven by differences in water density: heavier water sinks while lighter water rises.

What are bottom currents?

For physical oceanographers, deep-sea bottom currents are generally defined as the flow of water masses in the cold-water sphere beneath the base of the thermocline (Zenk, 2008). Bottom currents are also affected by intermittent processes, such as giant eddies, benthic storms, flow cascading, and tsunamis.

What process brings the cold ocean currents up to the surface?

Upwelling currents
Upwelling currents bring cold nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom to the surface, supporting many of the most important fisheries and ecosystems in the world.

What process brings deep cold ocean currents up?

thermohaline circulation
Deep ocean currents This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In cold regions, such as the North Atlantic Ocean, ocean water loses heat to the atmosphere and becomes cold and dense. When ocean water freezes, forming sea ice, salt is left behind causing surrounding seawater to become saltier and denser.

How do bottom currents move?

Water becomes dense near the poles. The dense water pushes deeper water out of its way and that water moves along the bottom of the ocean. This deep water mixes with less dense water as it flows. Surface currents move water into the space vacated at the surface where the dense water sank (Figure below).

How are bottom currents formed?

The different bottom currents at the shelf break are also discussed. These currents are generated by surface waves, tidal forces, wind forces, thermohaline differences, and internal waves. Vertical-upwelling currents are caused either by surface waters moving away from each other or by surface waters moving offshore.

What is bottom ocean?

The seabed (also known as the seafloor, sea floor, ocean floor, and ocean bottom) is the bottom of the ocean. All floors of the ocean are known as ‘seabeds’.

What causes the ocean to sink to the bottom?

Cold, salty water sinks to the bottom of the ocean. The sinking and transport of cold, salty water at depth combined with the wind-driven flow of warm water at the surface creates a complex pattern of ocean circulation called the ‘global conveyor belt.’.

What happens to cold water at the bottom of the ocean?

Cold, salty water sinks to the bottom of the ocean. The great ocean conveyor moves water around the globe. Cold, salty water is dense and sinks to the bottom of the ocean while warm water is less dense and remains on the surface. Cold water has a higher density than warm water.

What causes deep ocean currents to occur?

Deep ocean currents Differences in water density, resulting from the variability of water temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline), also cause ocean currents. This process is known as thermohaline circulation. In cold regions, such as the North Atlantic Ocean, ocean water loses heat to the atmosphere and becomes cold and dense.

Why is the ocean colder on the east coast?

The current flow influenced by salinity, wind, topography and earth’s rotation brings cold water from the depths to the surface by pushing away the surface water. This process explains why the ocean is colder on the east coast than the west coast.