Hannie Palmen

Worksheet No. 2. Thermohaline Circulation Lab

Modeling the Global Conveyor Belt / Thermohaline Circulation

Deep ocean currents are driven by differences in water densities in a process called thermohaline circulation. Density
depends on both the temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) of the water.

Scientists across the globe are trying to figure out why the ocean is becoming more violent and what, if anything, can
be done about it. Ocean currents, including the ocean conveyor belt, play a key role in determining how the ocean
distributes heat energy throughout the planet, thereby regulating and stabilizing climate patterns.

1. Watch the video: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/ocean-currents-and-climate/#alien-deep-

ocean-conveyor-belt

2. Your task is to model thermohaline circulation using available materials

Materials:

- Cold salty blue water (colors may change)

- Hot fresh red water (colors may change)
- Room temperature colorless water
- 1: 1000 mL beaker or a transparent container
- 2: 200 mL beakers or cups
- 2 Plastic bottles

3. Record your observations:

Observations of the cold salty water Observations of the hot fresh water
The hot water raised.

The cold salty water sank.

Reasons:
When water is cold, molecules are closer together, so
water is denser. Plus, when adding salt, the water has
more mass therefore it gets even denser. The cold
water has more salt; therefore, it has more ions. All
these properties make the water weigh more. when
Reasons:
When water is warm, molecules move far from each
other, therefore it is less dense. There is more
movement from the molecules. It does not have salt,
therefore the mix weights less, plus there is no salinity.

4. Thermohaline circulation diagram.

Complete each statement by circling the correct response. Then, add labeled arrows to the Ocean Conveyor
Belt image to show where water is rising or sinking.

Near the poles, the temperature is: Warm☐ / Cold☒

As ice forms, the leftover water gets: Saltier☒ / Less salty☐
And this water: Sinks☒ / Rises☐
Near the equator, the temperature is : Warm☒ /Cold☐
Compared to the poles, this water is: Saltier☐ /Less salty☒
And this water: Sinks☐ / Rises☒