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.
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