Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon in which deeper, typically colder and nutrient-rich water is transported toward the surface, primarily driven by wind-induced divergence of surface waters and the action of the Coriolis force. Along eastern ocean boundaries, along-equatorward winds generate Ekman transport that moves surface water offshore, causing compensatory upward flow from depth. Equatorial upwelling occurs where trade winds cause divergence of surface waters on either side of the equator. Upwelling strongly influences primary productivity, biogeochemical cycling, and thermal structure in the upper ocean, and is a key control on regional climate and fisheries in major eastern boundary current systems.
El Niño is a recurring climate event with impacts across the globe. It has three phases: one cold (known as La Niña), one neutral, and one warm (El Niño).
Earth Sciences
Jun 3, 2026
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More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world's two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic. The findings, published in the African Journal ...
Plants & Animals
May 22, 2026
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63
Researchers at National Taiwan University and partner institutions have uncovered new evidence that Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW)—a distinct layer sitting 500–1,500 meters below the ocean surface—played a pivotal role ...
Earth Sciences
May 18, 2026
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New research reveals a powerful yet overlooked driver of climate change: intensifying ocean eddies. These swirling currents—that break off from major currents—are redistributing heat and nutrients in the ocean and amplifying ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 15, 2026
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A new Stanford University study has helped solve a mystery about dramatic swings in sea ice extent around Antarctica.
Earth Sciences
Mar 28, 2026
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In 2016, Antarctic sea ice, which had previously shown record expansion, shifted rapidly toward unusually low levels. This abrupt shift left scientists scratching their heads, wondering why it had vanished so quickly despite ...
When the supercontinent Pangea began to fragment around 200 million years ago during the Early Jurassic, it reshaped the face of the planet. Vast new oceans opened, continents drifted apart and the familiar geography of today ...
Yesterday, an international team of researchers from various disciplines set off aboard the German research vessel METEOR for an expedition along the west coast of Africa, led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 17, 2026
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A new study shows that during the last two deglaciations, i.e., the transition from an ice age to the warm interglacial periods, meltwater from the Antarctic ice sheet intensified stratification in the Southern Ocean. The ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 14, 2026
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Seamounts and the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) are two typical deep-sea habitats that often coexist. However, determining whether the "seamount effect" alters OMZ structure through marine stratification, thereby influencing ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 5, 2026
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