中文摘要：

现代大洋热盐环流的特点之一是北大西洋有深水形成而北太平洋没有，这种不对称性对周边气候产生了重要影响。尽管理论上认为大洋热盐环流可能存在对应不同气候的多平衡态．但北太平洋是否曾有过深水形成已成为目前学术争论的一个热点。简要介绍了最新的热盐环流研究成果，重点分析现代北太平洋无深水形成的原因，其中亚洲季风的水汽输送和低蒸发是两个重要的影响因子。

英文摘要：

One of the characteristics of modern thermohaline circulation is that deepwater produced in the North Atlantic but not in the North Pacific, and this asymmetry has a deep impact on the climate. Theoretically, there are multi-equilibria states of the thermohaline circulation corresponding to different climates. However, whether the deep water was produced in the ancient North Pacific is a debate topic. Reasons of no deepwater formation in the modern North Pacific are introduced. Among others, vapor transport by Asian monsoon and lower evaporation are two major factors.