Where does upwelling occur?
Where does upwelling occur?
open ocean
Upwelling occurs in the open ocean and along coastlines. The reverse process, called “downwelling,” also occurs when wind causes surface water to build up along a coastline and the surface water eventually sinks toward the bottom.
Why does upwelling occur on west coasts?
Seasonal upwelling and downwelling also occur along the West Coast of the United States. In winter, winds blow from the south to the north, resulting in downwelling. During the summer, winds blow from the north to the south, and water moves offshore, resulting in upwelling along the coast.
Does upwelling occur in western boundary currents?
Upwelling is most common along the west coast of continents (eastern sides of ocean basins). Winds blowing from the south cause upwelling along continents’ eastern coasts in the Northern Hemisphere, although it is not as noticeable because of the western boundary currents.
What is upwelling caused by?
Upwelling is a process in which currents bring deep, cold water to the surface of the ocean. Upwelling is a result of winds and the rotation of the Earth. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. Because of this rotation, winds tend to veer right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern hemisphere.
How does upwelling affect climate?
Again, deeper water comes to the surface bringing with it nutrients and cooler water temperatures. In some places, upwelling can even affect the weather. In places such as San Francisco, the cool water temperatures brought by upwelling can cause air temperatures to drop and result in even more dense fog.
Why do regions of downwelling have low productivity?
Regions of downwelling have low productivity because of the nutrients get used up and are not continuously resupplied by the cold, nutrient-rich water from below the surface. Upwelling occurs when surface waters diverge (move apart), enabling upward movement of water.
Why is California coast so productive?
The waters along the west coast of North America are some of the most biologically productive in the world. As a result, cooler, nutrient-rich water rises up from the depths to take its place—a process known as upwelling. …
What is the difference between eastern and western boundary currents?
To move the same volume of water through each side, western boundary currents are faster, deeper, and narrower than eastern boundary currents. In the same way, western boundary currents are not only faster, but also deeper than eastern boundary currents, as they move the same volume through a narrower space.
What would happen if upwelling stopped?
What might happen to fisheries if upwelling stopped? Fish population would die or lessen. How is the direction of a surface current affected? It carries warm water to colder water creating a convection current.
What three types of fish are found almost entirely in upwelling regions?
Herring, anchovy, and sardines, three of the most widely harvested fish, are especially concentrated in upwelling zones.
How does downwelling happen?
Downwelling occurs when the water on the surface of the sea becomes denser than the water beneath it and so it sinks. Seawater gets denser when it gets colder or saltier.
Where does upwelling occur in the northern hemisphere?
Upwelling is most common along the west coast of continents (eastern sides of ocean basins). In the Northern Hemisphere, upwelling occurs along west coasts (e.g., coasts of California, Northwest Africa) when winds blow from the north (causing Ekman transport of surface water away from the shore).
Where does upwelling and downwelling occur on the west coast?
Seasonal upwelling and downwelling also occur along the West Coast of the United States. In winter, winds blow from the south to the north, resulting in downwelling. During the summer, winds blow from the north to the south, and water moves offshore, resulting in upwelling along the coast.
Where does the reverse process of upwelling occur?
Click the image for a larger view. Upwelling occurs in the open ocean and along coastlines. The reverse process, called downwelling, also occurs when wind causes surface water to build up along a coastline. The surface water eventually sinks toward the bottom.
What is the difference between upwelling and downwelling?
Downwelling is a kind of reverse upwelling. Instead of deeper water rising up, warm surface water sinks down. Upwelling and downwelling patterns often alternate seasonally. The West Coast of the United States, for example, experiences summer upwelling and winter downwelling, as the winds change directions with the seasons.