Mélyáramlatok

Mélyáramlatok, a Hungarian term, translates to "deep currents" and refers to slow-moving, cold water masses that originate in the polar regions and flow along the ocean floor. These currents are a critical component of the global thermohaline circulation, a system of ocean currents driven by differences in temperature and salinity.

The formation of deep currents begins when surface waters in high latitudes become very cold and saline, primarily due to ice formation which leaves behind salt. This dense water sinks to the ocean floor and begins to travel across the globe. For example, North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) originates in the Greenland Sea and flows southward, eventually reaching the Southern Ocean. Similarly, Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) forms around Antarctica and spreads northward.

These deep currents play a vital role in transporting heat, nutrients, and dissolved gases, such as oxygen, throughout the world's oceans. They are essential for maintaining marine ecosystems, influencing weather patterns, and regulating the Earth's climate. Changes in the strength or temperature of these deep currents can have significant, far-reaching consequences for the global climate system. Scientists monitor these currents to understand their role in climate change and to predict future climate scenarios.