Upwelling
Upwelling
Upwelling (/ʌpˈwɛlɪŋ/) is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. This typically occurs in the ocean but can also happen in other contexts.
Etymology
The term "upwelling" is derived from the English words "up" and "well", indicating the upward movement of water.
Process
Upwelling occurs when winds blow across the ocean surface and push water away. Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. This upwelling water is typically colder and richer in nutrients. These nutrients "fertilize" surface waters, meaning that these areas often have high biological productivity.
Types of Upwelling
There are several types of upwelling, including coastal upwelling, equatorial upwelling, and Langmuir upwelling.
- Coastal Upwelling occurs along coastlines where wind blows parallel to the coastline.
- Equatorial Upwelling occurs at the equator where trade winds blow from east to west, causing water to be displaced and upwelling to occur.
- Langmuir Upwelling is a type of upwelling that occurs when wind and currents create a series of rotating vortices.
Related Terms
- Downwelling: The opposite of upwelling, where warmer surface water is pushed down to greater depths.
- Ekman Transport: The net motion of fluid as the result of a balance between Coriolis and turbulent drag forces.
- Thermocline: A thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Upwelling
- Wikipedia's article - Upwelling
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