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.
Narrow bands of ocean covering just over one-third of the world's seas are responsible for absorbing nearly three-quarters of the carbon dioxide that oceans pull from the atmosphere, new research shows. The study, published ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 27, 2026
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The natural phenomenon of upwelling, which occurs annually in the Gulf of Panama, failed for the first time on record in 2025. A study led by scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) indicates that ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 1, 2025
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Deep below the surface of the ocean, unseen waves roil and churn the water. These internal waves, traveling between water layers of different temperatures and densities, draw cold, nutrient-rich water up from the depths and ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 25, 2025
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Research led by Earth scientists at the University of Southampton has uncovered evidence of rhythmic surges of molten mantle rock rising from deep within the Earth beneath Africa. These pulses are gradually tearing the continent ...
Earth Sciences
Jun 25, 2025
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Mesoscale eddies, oceanic gyres about 100 kilometers in diameter, are ubiquitous features of the global ocean and play a vital role in marine ecosystems. Eddies, which form in biologically productive coastal upwelling regions, ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 25, 2025
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