At this point, they rush over the ledge into the Atlantic, pushing the less saline surface water into the Mediterranean.
descends to join the ultra-deep, cold section of the worldwide Thermohaline current.
After spending an exceptionally long time in the depths, it eventually heats up, rising to join the higher Thermohaline current section.
Because of the temperature and expansiveness of the Thermohaline current, it is substantially slower, taking nearly 1000 years to run its worldwide circuit.
This spreads the nutrient rich ocean life to the surface, feeding some of the world’s largest fisheries.
The Ekman Spiral works as follows: when the surface moves, the subsurface inherits some -but not all- of this motion.
Due to the Coriolis Effect, however, the current moves at a 45˚ angle to the right of the first (left in the Southern Hemisphere).
Various subsurface currents conflict at times, causing bizarre wave patterns.
Thus, they function like clockwork, providing nutrient transportation, water transfer, etc., as well as affecting the ocean floor and submarine processes.