Live Quiz Arena
๐ 1 Free Round Daily
โก Enter ArenaQuestion
โ Earth & Natural SystemsA volume of cold, salty water sinks in the North Atlantic โ which process explains this phenomenon?
A)Coriolis effect deflects currents
B)Ekman transport creates divergence
C)Thermohaline circulation increases densityโ
D)Upwelling brings nutrients upward
๐ก Explanation
The cold, salty water sinks because thermohaline circulation is driven by density differences resulting from temperature (thermo-) and salinity (haline). Increased salinity and decreased temperature both increase water density; therefore, the water sinks rather than rising due to buoyancy or being influenced by wind patterns.
๐ Up to ยฃ1,000 monthly prize pool
Ready for the live challenge? Join the next global round now.
*Terms apply. Skill-based competition.
Related Questions
Browse Earth & Natural Systems โ- Why does branching coral growth decrease with increasing depth in a coral reef environment?
- A newly formed stratovolcano emits significant sulfur dioxide into the upper troposphere. What happens to surface solar radiation as a consequence?
- What happens to the dew point when atmospheric pressure increases, assuming constant water vapor content?
- A surface algal bloom suddenly decays in a coastal ocean zone. Which effect results when this large amount of organic matter sinks?
- What happens to cation exchange capacity (CEC) in soil when silicate minerals weather and release silicon?
- A forest ecosystem experiences increased rainfall and warmer temperatures. Which process is responsible for accelerating decomposition rates, thereby increasing nutrient availability?
