Topic 14 Density Driven Currents GEOL 2503 Introduction to Oceanography

THERMOHALINE CIRCULATION VERTICAL circulation driven by DENSITY Density of sea water mainly controlled by temperature and salinity Temperature is more important Warm water has low density, and oceans are heated from the top. So how does water sink?

IMPORTANCE OF VERTICAL CIRCULATION DOWNWELLING Carries oxygen to the deep ocean UPWELLING Carries carbon dioxide and nutrients to the surface

Driven by surface processes Recall atmospheric circulation These zones control evaporation and precipitation patterns Latitude controls surface temperature

Recall patterns of rising and falling air

Precipitation and Evaporation Patterns Average ocean salinity is 35 ‰ Tropics—rising air—heavy rain Oceans: lower salinity (34.5 ‰) Land: tropical rain forests 30° N+S—falling air—evaporation Oceans: higher salinity (36.7 ‰) Land: deserts

Precipitation and Evaporation Patterns 50-60° N+S—rising air again—heavy rain again Oceans: cool and lower salinity (34.0 ‰) Land: northern hemisphere forests

Another Important Factor Polar latitudes—seasonal influences Winter—sea ice forms—salinity increases Summer—sea ice melts—salinity decreases

Ocean surface salinity

Ocean Surface Water Density Summary Temperature and Salinity are the major controls on density of ocean surface water As salinity increases, density increases As salinity decreases, density decreases As temperature increases, density decreases As temperature decreases, density increases

Controls on Salinity Increased by: Decreased by: evaporation sea ice formation Decreased by: precipitation sea ice melting inflow of river water

Many combinations of salinities and temperatures produce the same density

Surface Processes Less-dense water stays at surface Warmer, less saline Denser water tends to sink Colder, more saline The result is a density-layered ocean

Changes with Depth Well-mixed surface layer to about 100 m Increasing density to about 1,000 m Constant density below 1,000 m Region between 100-1,000 m is called a pycnocline ‘Pycno-’ refers to density

Same for Temperature, Salinity Thermocline—zone with a rapid change in temperature with depth Halocline—zone with a rapid change in salinity with depth Pycnocline—zone with a rapid change in density with depth All occur between about 100-1,000 m

There is no pycnocline (or halocline or thermocline) in high latitudes because of rapidly sinking water

Density-Driven Circulation Vertical circulation in the oceans is driven by density Density is mostly controlled by surface changes in temperature and salinity Because of this, vertical circulation is called thermohaline circulation

Upwelling and Downwelling Vertical motions of water up or down: Sinking water—downwelling Rising water—upwelling Continuity of flow is basic concept

Another way to drive upwelling and downwelling Push surface water together or apart Has nothing to do with density Processes called surface convergences and divergences

Divergence zones—surface water pushed apart by winds and surface currents Convergence zones—surface water pushed together by winds and surface currents http://maritime.haifa.ac.il/departm/lessons/ocean/

Ocean surface convergence and divergence driven by global wind patterns

Remember the El Niño Story

Antarctic Convergence is the northern limit of the Southern Ocean

Antarctic Convergence Also known as the Polar Front It’s a line encircling Antarctica where cold, northward-flowing Antarctic waters sink beneath the relatively warmer waters of the sub-Antarctic. It is a dynamic boundary, meaning it's precise location may shift, but is generally located between 48º S and 61º S latitude

Coastal Upwelling/ Downwelling

All driven by differences in density

Water Masses Water with similar temperature and density characteristics Acquire characteristics at the surface Thermohaline circulation moves masses throughout the ocean depths Named by: Where from Where found

The Mediterranean Seafloor

Mediterranean outflow water

Map view Side view

Southern Ocean Water Masses and Circulation Schematic depth-latitude diagram showing the major circulation and water masses of the Southern Ocean. The following water masses are highlighted: (1) Antarctic Bottom Water flowing along the abyssal ocean, (2) Circumpolar Deep Water upwelling into the Antarctic Divergence Zone, (3) Antarctic Intermediate Water in the temperature range 4-6°C, and (4) Subantarctic Mode Water in the upper ocean north of the Subantarctic Front (SAF).

T-S Curves Temperature and Salinity (T-S) plotted on graphs Remember, water masses have characteristic patterns of temperature and salinity So T-S curves delineate water masses

Deep water forms only in a few places surface deep sinking 3 4 2 1 1-Weddell Sea 2-Ross Sea 3-Labrador Sea 4-Norwegian Sea

1 3 2 4 1-Weddell Sea 3-Labrador Sea 2-Ross Sea 4-Norwegian Sea

Could it happen?

A. thermocline B. mixed layer C. layer with the highest density D. curve for low latitudes E. curve for high latitudes

A. thermocline and pycnocline B. warmest water C. seasonally warm water D. Antarctic Bottom Water E. Antarctic Intermediate Water F. North Atlantic Deep Water G. upwelling

Polynya (polynia) An area of open water surrounded by sea ice Now used as geographical term for areas of sea in Arctic or Antarctic regions which remain unfrozen for much of the year. The term derives from the Russian word for a hole in the ice Adopted in the 19th century by polar explorers to describe navigable portions of the sea.

http://www2.fsg.ulaval.ca/giroq/now//dundas.jpg

Whales often use polynias for access to air.

Seawater: Temperature and Density

Seawater: Ice Formation