thermohaline circulation Vertical circulation induced by the cooling of surface waters in a large water body. This cooling causes convective overturning and consequent mixing of waters. In the oceans thermohaline circulation usually results from the combined effects of variations in temperature and salinity.

thermohaline circulation Vertical circulation induced by the cooling of surface waters in a large water body. This cooling causes convective overturning and consequent mixing of waters. In the oceans, this circulation usually involves temperature and salinity variations acting together.