upwelling

American  

[uhp-wel-ing] / ʌpˈwɛl ɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of welling up.

   an upwelling of public support; an upwelling of emotion in his voice.

2. Oceanography. the process by which warm, less-dense surface water is drawn away from along a shore by offshore currents and replaced by cold, denser water brought up from the subsurface.

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upwelling Scientific  

/ ŭp-wĕl′ĭng /

1. The rising of cold, usually nutrient-rich waters from the ocean depths to the warmer, sunlit zone at the surface. Upwelling usually occurs in the subtropics along the western continental coasts, where prevailing trade winds drive the surface water away from shore, drawing deeper water upward to take its place. Because of the abundance of krill and other nutrients in the colder waters, these regions are rich feeding grounds for a variety of marine and avian species. Upwelling can also occur in the middle of oceans where cyclonic circulation is relatively permanent or where southern trade winds cross the Equator.

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Etymology

Origin of upwelling

First recorded in 1850–55; upwell + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The rap on this particular batch of hopefuls is they’re a collective bore, which, honestly, seems a greater concern to those writing and spitballing about the race than a reflection of some great upwelling of citizens clamoring for bread and circuses.

From Los Angeles Times

In a study published on November 13th in Nature Communications, the research team used the California Current as a case study and found that upwelling regions significantly intensify ocean acidification rather than simply reflecting atmospheric trends.

From Science Daily

Upwelling occurs when deeper ocean layers, which are already nutrient rich and naturally acidic, move upward toward the shore.

From Science Daily

Their findings show that upwelling zones experience acidification rates that exceed those "expected" from atmospheric CO2 alone.

From Science Daily

Upwelling systems rank among the most biologically productive regions on Earth and play an essential role in supporting global fisheries.

From Science Daily