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Thermohaline: definition.
The ocean consists almost entirely of water and salt. The {density} of ocean water
depends on both temperature (T) and salinity (S).
The “thermohaline” circulation of the ocean refers to the flow of
ocean water caused by changes in density. This can occur as the ocean is warmed
or cooled at the surface by radiation and contact with the atmosphere, or by the
addition of fresh water (rain, snow, and river runoff) or salt (from formation
of sea ice). See our “Climate”
page for an example of the thermohaline circulation.