Ocean circulation and overturning
Wind, buoyancy changes and mixing contribute to ocean transport.
Key knowledge
Ocean circulation includes wind-driven currents and overturning associated with buoyancy changes from heating, cooling and freshwater exchange. These processes redistribute heat and materials. Deep-water formation and the return of water toward the surface involve connected dynamics rather than a single uniform conveyor speed.
Conditions and scope
- Temperature, salinity, winds, mixing and geometry interact; density changes alone do not describe every current.
- A global-conveyor picture is a simplification, not a fixed future forecast or one circuit followed by every water parcel.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Toggweiler/Key overview and discussion of deep formation, upwelling and wind effects.
2026-10-10 · Checked coupled-process scope; excluded dated turnover estimates and collapse predictions.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- earth-ocean-circulation
- Revision
- university-reference.1
- Structured reference record
- University reference