<p>Yes.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermohaline_circulation" rel="nofollow">Thermohaline circulation</a> is dependent on differences in water density, caused by differences in temperature and salinity between different bodies of water. It therefore requires deepwater areas, of which the northern and middle Atlantic have the most, for these differences or "gradients" to form. These are influences on the Gulf Stream.</p>

<p>In addition, the Gulf Stream is wind driven, as is true of most currents. So it depends on <em>both</em> influences.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T02:06:11.083Z
2016-07-28T02:06:11.083Z
Tom Au
<p>Currents are formed in 3 major ways: </p>

<ul>
<li>Tidal Currents</li>
<li>Wind-driven Currents</li>
<li>Thermohaline circulation</li>
</ul>

<p>I've seen the gulf stream mentioned as both a wind-driven surface current and being part of the thermohaline circulation, which is due to density differences. </p>

<p>Does the gulf stream belong to both classifications of currents?  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-28T23:09:03.747Z
It'd probably more complete if you also mentioned ocean gyres and coriolis.
Siv
<ocean><oceanography><ocean-currents><thermohaline-circulation>
Is the gulf stream both a wind-driven current and part of thermohaline circulation?
G. Gip
# Is the gulf stream both a wind-driven current and part of thermohaline circulation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-22)

Currents are formed in 3 major ways:

* Tidal Currents
* Wind-driven Currents
* Thermohaline circulation

I've seen the gulf stream mentioned as both a wind-driven surface current and being part of the thermohaline circulation, which is due to density differences.

Does the gulf stream belong to both classifications of currents?

**Tags:** ocean, oceanography, ocean-currents, thermohaline-circulation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It'd probably more complete if you also mentioned ocean gyres and coriolis.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-07-28. Score: 1

Yes.[Thermohaline circulation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermohaline_circulation) is dependent on differences in water density, caused by differences in temperature and salinity between different bodies of water. It therefore requires deepwater areas, of which the northern and middle Atlantic have the most, for these differences or "gradients" to form. These are influences on the Gulf Stream.

In addition, the Gulf Stream is wind driven, as is true of most currents. So it depends on *both* influences.


---

