Which mechanism causes surface water to sink in the North Atlantic region forming North Atlantic Deep Water?

💡 Explanation

When surface water cools and increases in salinity, density increases triggering convective overturning because denser water sinks due to gravity, forming North Atlantic Deep Water which then spreads throughout the ocean basins. Therefore density increase is essential, rather than upwelling, tidal inputs, or geothermal effects which have contrasting mechanisms.

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