Which process drives the sinking of surface water in high latitude regions initiating deep ocean circulation?

💡 Explanation

When seawater freezes to form ice, salt is rejected, increasing the salinity of the remaining water; this increased salinity, coupled with cooling, increases density causing the water to sink starting thermohaline circulation. Therefore, increased salinity results, rather than changes due to solar radiation, decomposition or sediment requiring alternate processes.

• Which process increases cave formation permeability when precipitation increases?
• Which effect accelerates chemical weathering rates along transform fault zones?
• Which mechanism contributes to the deflection of geostrophic currents near ocean basin western boundaries?
• Which phenomenon causes offset stream channels along transform plate boundaries?
• Which mechanism primarily causes shallow, yet powerful earthquakes along a transform boundary, specifically the San Andreas Fault?
• Which mechanism causes increased liquefaction risk during seismic shaking of unconsolidated coastal sediments?