Which mechanism causes density-driven ocean circulation when surface water salinity increases substantially at high latitudes?

💡 Explanation

When surface water salinity increases in cold regions, the density increases because salinity and temperature both affect seawater density, leading to thermohaline sinking, a key component of global ocean circulation. Therefore, thermohaline sinking results, rather than upwelling, tidal mixing, or gyre formation which require different driving forces.

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