Changing Waterways

Question 18 • IC Environmental Science - Deering

How is thermohaline circulation influenced by salinity and temperature?

Answer

It is driven by density gradients, which are affected by salinity and temperature, with cold water and water with higher salt concentrations being more dense.

It is driven by density gradients, which are affected by salinity and temperature, with warm water and water with higher salt concentrations being more dense.

It is driven by density gradients, which are affected by salinity and temperature, with warm water and water with lower salt concentrations being more dense.

It is driven by density gradients, which are affected by salinity and temperature, with cold water and water with lower salt concentrations being more dense.

Explanation

Thermohaline circulation is driven by differences in seawater density. Colder water is denser than warmer water, and water with more dissolved salt is denser than water with less salt. Therefore, choice a correctly describes how temperature and salinity affect the circulation.

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