Which mechanism sustains thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic Ocean when surface water cools significantly during winter?

💡 Explanation

When surface water cools, density increases due to the seawater molecules packing closer, leading to sinking, which drives thermohaline circulation because denser water descends and initiates deep ocean currents. Therefore high-salinity water increasing density sustains circulation, rather than buoyancy, solar radiation, or stratification which would inhibit sinking.

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