Thermohaline circulation

This connected circulation is often called the global ocean conveyor belt. Its density-driven part is known as thermohaline circulation: ‘thermo’ refers to temperature and ‘haline’ to salinity. Surface and deep flows connect into a system that redistributes heat, alongside the movement of air in the atmosphere.

This is called thermohaline circulation: temperature and salt content influence the water's density. Surface winds and density-driven circulation work together to redistribute heat through the oceans. Alongside atmospheric circulation, they make Earth's climate a connected global system.