downwelling

American  

[doun-wel-ing] / ˈdaʊnˌwɛl ɪŋ /

noun

Oceanography.

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

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Etymology

Origin of downwelling

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downwelling

That allows the sea level to rise a little bit, “and it creates what we call a downwelling oceanic Kelvin wave,” said Jon Gottschalck, the Climate Prediction Center’s operational prediction branch chief.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026