The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is important to ocean circulation because:Question 8Select one:it keeps the glaciers from floating into the sea, thus keeping sea level rise to a minimumit is home to most of the world's penguins (and they're cute)it is where dense, cold water forms which is important to THCstrong storms that drive surface circulation begin at its edge in the Southern Ocean
Question
The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is important to ocean circulation because:Question 8Select one:it keeps the glaciers from floating into the sea, thus keeping sea level rise to a minimumit is home to most of the world's penguins (and they're cute)it is where dense, cold water forms which is important to THCstrong storms that drive surface circulation begin at its edge in the Southern Ocean
Solution
The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is important to ocean circulation because it is where dense, cold water forms which is important to Thermohaline Circulation (THC).
Thermohaline Circulation refers to a part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes. The adjective thermohaline derives from thermo- referring to temperature and -haline referring to salt content, factors which together determine the density of sea water.
The dense, cold water formed in the Ross Ice Shelf sinks and moves along the ocean floor towards the equator, while warmer water from the equator moves towards the poles. This movement of water helps to regulate the Earth's climate by transporting heat around the planet.
Similar Questions
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