downwelling

[ doun-wel-ing ]

noun

, Oceanography.

1. a downward current of surface water in the ocean, usually caused by differences in the density of seawater.

Word History and Origins

Origin of downwelling¹

First recorded in 1965–70; down ¹ + well ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In contrast, if the core had instead transported heat via the upwelling and downwelling of material, the planet would have cooled off faster and no longer give off so much heat.

From Science News