Articles tagged with Upwelling
A new study reveals that ocean acidification is accelerating at a rate outpacing atmospheric CO2 levels, with the Northeastern Pacific Ocean experiencing rapid acidification. The research analyzed coral skeletons from the past century, showing that CO2 has been accumulating in North American waters faster than in the atmosphere.
Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute recorded that Panama's Pacific upwelling did not occur in 2025, leading to diminished temperature drops and productivity spikes. The researchers attribute this event to a significant reduction in wind patterns, highlighting the vulnerability of tropical upwelling systems.
A new study published in Earth's Future journal reveals that sea-level projections from the 1990s were remarkably accurate, with global sea-level rise averaging about one eighth of an inch per year. The researchers compared these projections with recent satellite measurements and found a remarkable match.
A new study reveals that ocean eddies off the leeward side of Hawaiian Islands supply nutrients to both sides of the island chain, stimulating blooms of phytoplankton and boosting biological productivity. This mechanism may also impact fisheries near Hawaii and other nutrient-poor regions.
A team of scientists, including a UC Irvine researcher, discovered that bumpy ocean floor features contribute to upwelling rates 10,000 times higher than the global average. This finding provides direct evidence for earlier theoretical predictions about ocean circulation and mass balance.
For the first time, researchers measured cold, deep water upwelling along a submarine canyon slope using fluorescent dye. The pace of upwelling was more than 10,000 times the global average rate predicted by Walter Munk in the 1960s.
A new study reveals that meandering ocean currents and the ocean floor induce upwelling velocity, transporting warm water to shallower depths, contributing to rapid melting of Antarctic ice shelves. This process poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide due to rising global sea levels.
Researchers found that coastal trapped waves and tidal mixing control primary production in the tropical Angolan upwelling system. Productivity peaks occur seasonally, with strong fluctuations during austral winter.
Exposure to ocean acidification in red abalone can last across generations, affecting growth rates and reproductive potential. Scientists found that buffering the water chemistry at crucial life stages can help ease these effects for captive- and commercially raised red abalone.
Researchers found that a rise in South Atlantic temperature caused a release of trapped CO2 into the atmosphere, affecting climate regulation. This process has implications for current climate change and potential collapse of the AMOC.
Research investigates impact of storm fronts, tropical storms, and cyclones on ocean circulation, finding changes in atmospheric synoptic variability (ASV) slow down ocean circulation and decrease primary productivity. ASV variations also affect mixing of ocean's layers and strength of oceanic circulation systems.
The study found that environmental conditions and the state of the ocean can lead to enhanced risk for ocean temperature extremes. Upwelling patterns on a short-term basis also initiate some of these marine heatwaves and cold spells.
Pygmy right whales do not migrate across oceans like other baleen whales, instead staying in mid-latitude waters off southern Australia where they breed and feed on specific prey. This unique behavior puts them at risk due to climate change, which is warming their temperate ocean habitats.
Researchers identified fluctuations in climate and ocean conditions as the main drivers of entanglement risk to whales in Dungeness crab fishing gear. The study provides new tools for managing fisheries while minimizing impact on whale populations.
A team of researchers is using the Frontera supercomputer to develop medium to long-term fishery forecasts driven by high-resolution coupled climate forecasts. They find that changes to upwelling are predicted to be warmer, not colder, and may impact the sustainability of fisheries in the US and globally.
A new study reveals that transient wind events trigger significant phytoplankton blooms near tropical reef islands, creating a large network of marine ecosystems. This process, driven by coastal winds, fuels the production of phytoplankton and supports critical feeding habitats for migratory marine species.
A distinct population of oceanic manta rays was identified off the coast of Ecuador, with an estimated total population of over 22,000 individuals, making it more than 10 times larger than any other known subpopulation. The population is large and potentially healthy due to favorable conditions in the region.
Researchers found a 22,000-year cycle in the Earth-sun distance affecting the Pacific cold tongue, impacting El Niño/La Niña events and North American weather. The study suggests that the changing distance may have long-term historical effects on other weather systems.
Researchers found coastal embayments experience episodic hypoxic events and increased hypoxic conditions compared to open coastline. These areas are likely to be impacted by climate change and ecosystem changes.
A recent study by the University of Plymouth and international partners reveals that rapid sea temperature drops of up to 10 degrees were a primary cause of a devastating coral die-off event in Costa Rica's Eastern Tropical Pacific. The research highlights the importance of considering upwellings when managing reef systems, and propose...
Oceanographers have discovered substantial subsurface phytoplankton layers deep beneath the eastern part of the Great Australian Bight, supporting rich marine biodiversity. This finding explains how the region's productivity survives even when surface phytoplankton blooms disappear during certain upwelling seasons.
Scientists discovered two distinct sardine populations in South Africa, one adapted to cool-temperate waters and the other to warmer subtropical conditions. The study suggests the Sardine Run may be a relic of spawning behavior dating back to the glacial period.
Researchers found that global warming is causing changes to the Arabian Sea upwelling, which could impact commercial fishing, regional climate, and socioeconomics. The study used coral fossils to analyze seawater temperature and salinity changes over a 1,000-year period.
New research unlocks the mystery of the Galápagos Islands' unique ecosystem, revealing that local northward winds drive upwelling and nutrient injection to support biodiversity. The findings inform plans to expand the Galápagos Marine Reserve and improve its management against climate change.
Research suggests that changes in Antarctic Ocean surface waters stored more CO2 in the deep ocean during ice ages. Diatom fossils provided evidence of reduced wind-driven upwelling, linking it to climate cooling and atmospheric CO2 drawdown. This discovery brings scientists closer to understanding the origin of ice ages.
A study analyzing silicon isotope composition of diatoms reveals a significant increase in silicon availability in the 20th and 21st centuries. Climate records show an increase in wind strength, which contributes to nutrient upwelling from Lake Baikal's depths.
Researchers found that wild red abalone mothers provide their offspring with an energy boost from yolk lipids, making them more tolerant of ocean acidification. However, fast-growing farmed abalone are more susceptible to dying under the same conditions.
Researchers monitor 171 Oregon gray whales using drones and find a compelling relationship between whales' body condition and changing ocean conditions. The study suggests that changes in ocean conditions may be causing skinny whales, with poor upwelling limiting prey availability.
Researchers studied the nexus between climate, upwelling, and marine ecosystems, finding that each Eastern Boundary Upwelling System (EBUS) has unique drivers and climate variability. The study highlights the importance of considering local and remote forcing factors in predicting long-term variations in upwelling.
A new study published in Nature Climate Change concludes that future subtropical warming is the main culprit behind accelerated tropical climate change. This phenomenon originates from the interaction of atmospheric and oceanic circulation changes, as well as cloud processes between subtropical and tropical regions.
Researchers found that internal waves can reduce coral bleaching by up to 88% and prevent severe heating events. This natural cooling process may offer hope for coral reefs, but its impact is uncertain due to climate change.
A new study published in the journal Geology reveals that cold-water corals on the Namibian shelf have been extinct for over 4,500 years due to low oxygen contents. The researchers attribute this extinction to a shift in the Benguela upwelling system and its associated intensification of the oxygen minimum zone.
New research reveals that lionfish populations on mesophotic reefs are affected by prey abundance and water temperature. Higher densities of lionfish were found at sites with lower bottom temperatures, suggesting cold-water upwelling currents fuel the food chain in these areas.
A new study by the University of South Florida finds ocean circulation was the major determinant of Florida's 2018 red tide blooms. The study used ocean circulation models and autonomous underwater gliders to pinpoint the initiation zone for the blooms, which were likely carried to the coastline by a rare upwelling circulation.
NASA's Aqua satellite observed Super Typhoon Kong-Rey with cloud top temperatures as cold as -85.2 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storms capable of heavy rain. The typhoon is expected to encounter cooler sea surface temperatures by Oct. 3, affecting its trajectory and intensity.
A study suggests that increased Southern Ocean upwelling may be responsible for the Holocene's 20 ppm rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which stabilized the climate and facilitated human civilization. This process weakened the biological pump, allowing more carbon dioxide to leak into the atmosphere.
The study found that increased nutrient supply in the Southern Ocean during the Holocene era likely contributed to the 20 ppm increase in atmospheric CO2, preventing cooling and facilitating human civilization development. The ocean's 'biological pump' weakened due to enhanced upwelling, allowing CO2 to escape into the atmosphere.
The subduction of the Pacific plate resulted in the thinning and replacement of the lithospheric mantle in the North China Craton. The Yanshan Movement, a decratonization process, was characterized by lithospheric thinning and crustal detachment triggered by asthenospheric upwelling.
Research led by the University of Texas at Austin found that strong winds over the Southern Ocean bring warm water to East Antarctica's Totten Glacier, causing it to melt from below. The glacier's contribution to global sea level rise will likely increase as winds intensify.
Researchers found that a low silicate-to-nitrate ratio in the bay's waters led to extremely high concentrations of domoic acid, causing the bloom. This unique combination resulted in dense populations of toxic diatoms, affecting wildlife and commercial fisheries.
Foraminifera, single-celled organisms that form the base of marine food webs, struggle to build their shells and make spines in high CO2 environments. This study suggests that stressed foraminifera could indicate a larger scale disruption of carbon cycling in the ocean.
The deep meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the South China Sea has made significant progress, driven by the Luzon Strait overflow and enhanced cyclonic circulation. The study reveals an unclosed 'sandwich' structure with upwelling areas primarily located in slope regions.
Researchers found record-breaking levels of domoic acid in a range of species, including fish and Dungeness crab. The toxin's persistence in the food web and sediments led to prolonged exposure and harm to both humans and marine life.
The analysis reveals that modern oceans have a unique and unparalleled biodiversity, with numerous species coexisting due to the fossil record's large Internet database. Human impacts on the environment could lead to a decline in biodiversity.
The Southern Ocean's carbon sink has revived after 'saturating' since 2005 due to changes in weather patterns. The reinvigoration is attributed to variations in wind and temperature, enabling the ocean to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere.
NASA's Aqua satellite captured images of Hurricane Blanca on June 3 and 4, showing a decrease in organization and cloud top temperatures as cold as -81.6F. The storm's bands of thunderstorms became fragmented, and its pinhole eye disappeared from the image.
A report suggests global warming will increase ocean upwelling in several systems, enhancing marine productivity and fisheries. However, a thicker, warmer top layer may reduce upwelling's ability to energize coastal ecosystems, posing a significant threat to global fisheries and marine biodiversity.
Climate change is expected to alter the timing, duration, and intensity of coastal upwelling, a process that drives nutrient availability and supports fisheries. This shift may lead to reduced latitudinal variation in coastal upwelling, influencing global marine biodiversity.
A UCSB geochemist used lead and helium isotope measurements to analyze Samoan volcanoes, finding evidence of a primordial component within the deep interior. The study revealed distinct chemical configurations and mixing relationships among four endmembers, providing new insights into Earth's mantle plume structure.
A study by University of South Carolina researchers found that natural processes can cause dramatic year-to-year drops in fish populations. The team used tree rings to extrapolate back in time nearly 600 years and found that low winter upwelling, which favors fish growth, has increased recently, sparking concerns about climate change.
Research finds increasing variability in coastal upwelling currents linked to short-term declines in fish growth and seabird reproduction. Tree ring data reveals 4 out of 10 most extreme poor upwelling years occurred since 1950, highlighting the importance of upwelling for ecosystem conservation.
Climate researchers found that recent rapid Atlantic Ocean warming has affected climate in the Pacific, strengthening trade winds, accelerating sea level rise in the western Pacific, and causing eastern Pacific surface cooling. The study highlights the impact of Atlantic-Pacific coupling on global climate trends.
Tropical Cyclone Madi is expected to make landfall in southern India on December 12. The storm's heaviest rainfall was observed north of its center, with rates reaching up to 2 inches per hour.
Scientists have discovered that large-scale upwelling in the Earth's mantle is mostly concentrated beneath Africa and the Central Pacific, with these locations remaining remarkably stable over geological time. This discovery provides a framework for understanding how mantle dynamics are linked to surface geology.
Researchers study terrestrial water storage data to predict fire activity in the Amazon region months in advance. They find that during high fire years, water storage is below average before the fire season, while in low fire years, it is above average before the dry season.
Researchers found elevated mercury levels in coastal fog due to upwelling of deep ocean water, which brings the element to the surface and into the atmosphere. While the levels are extremely low, more research is needed to understand the processes involved.
Scientists from University of Miami's Deep-C consortium studied ocean heat content, salinity, and currents during Hurricane Isaac. The research aims to determine if upwelling and deep sea responses led to oil spills on the Gulf Coast.
Researchers Kevin Speer and John Marshall suggest that the majority of ocean heat transport occurs in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, driven by strong winds. This finding could significantly impact our understanding of global climate processes.
A decade-long study of apex predators in the Pacific Ocean has found that biological 'hotspots' are essential for the survival of many species. Upwelling areas, triggered by wind-driven mixing, create nutrient-rich waters that support a wide range of marine life.
Researchers launched a rocket into aurora above Norway to measure the complex physics behind 'satellite drag'. The data will provide essential information for advancing understanding of neutral upwelling and its association with visible aurora phenomena.