Ocean Currents and Climate

Do the Earth’s Oceans Affect Climate?

The Great Ocean Conveyer

• The global ocean conveyor belt is a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity. The great ocean conveyor moves water around the globe. The ocean is not a still body of water.

How does it work?

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boFGOZ1X5Bo

Temperature vs. Salinity

• What do you think of when you hear the word temperature?

• What do you think of when you hear the word salinity?

AKA Thermohaline Circulation

• The oceans are mostly composed of warm salty water near the surface over cold, less salty water in the ocean depths. These two regions don't mix except in certain special areas, which creates a large slow current called the thermohaline circulation.

A Picture Perspective

Another Perspective

One More Perspective

Investigation Question:

How might the climate be affected by a change in the great ocean conveyer?