How does upwelling affect the ocean?

How does upwelling affect the ocean?

Effects of Upwelling Because the deep water brought to the surface is often rich in nutrients, coastal upwelling supports the growth of seaweed and plankton. These, in turn, provide food for fish, marine mammals, and birds. Upwelling generates some of the world’s most fertile ecosystems.

How does the ocean gain and lose energy?

The main source of ocean heat is sunlight. Additionally, clouds, water vapor, and greenhouse gases emit heat that they have absorbed, and some of that heat energy enters the ocean. Waves, tides, and currents constantly mix the ocean, moving heat from warmer to cooler latitudes and to deeper levels.

What is an upwelling and how does it affect ocean life?

Upwelling brings those lost/sunk nutrients back to the surface, which creates “blooms” of algae and zooplankton, which feed on those nutrients. These blooms then become feeding grounds for plankton feeders, then fish, etc, sustaining ocean life that lives near the surface.

Is upwelling good or bad?

Upwelling occurs in the late spring and summer when wind drives cooler, dense, and nutrient-rich water toward the ocean surface, replacing the warmer surface water. “On the other hand,” he said, “it could be really bad” if it raises turbulence, disrupts feeding, worsens ocean acidification, and lowers oxygen levels.

Why does the ocean soak up energy?

When sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface, the world’s oceans absorb some of this energy and store it as heat. This heat is initially absorbed at the surface, but some of it eventually spreads to deeper waters. Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations are trapping more energy from the sun.

How is ocean thermal energy produced?

Ocean thermal energy conversion produces energy from temperature differences in ocean waters. Energy from the sun heats the surface water of the ocean. In tropical regions, surface water can be much warmer than deep water. This temperature difference can be used to produce electricity and to desalinate ocean water.

Why are Downwellings important for marine environments?

Currents also are a major factor in ocean ecosystems. Two types of current motion, upwelling and downwelling, strongly influence the distribution and abundance of marine life. When currents upwell, or flow up to the surface from beneath, they sweep vital nutrients back to where they’re needed most.

What are upwellings and Downwellings?

Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface. 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.

Where do ocean waves obtain their energy?

the wind
Most ocean waves obtain their energy and motion from the wind.

How do ocean circulations and seawater movements affect marine life?

By moving heat from the equator toward the poles, ocean currents play an important role in controlling the climate. Ocean currents are also critically important to sea life. They carry nutrients and food to organisms that live permanently attached in one place, and carry reproductive cells and ocean life to new places.

What are the effects of upwelling in the ocean?

Effects of Upwelling. First, upwelling brings up cold, nutrient-rich waters to the surface, which encourage seaweed growth and support blooms of phytoplankton. The phytoplankton blooms form the ultimate energy base for large animal populations higher in the food chain, including fish, marine mammals and seabirds.

How does water rise up from the surface of the ocean?

Winds blowing across the ocean surface push water away. Water then rises up from beneath the surface to replace the water that was pushed away. This process is known as “upwelling.”

Where does the reverse process of upwelling occur?

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.

What causes the upwelling of water near the equator?

The Coriolis effect also causes upwelling in the open ocean near the Equator. Trade wind s at the Equator blow surface water both north and south, allowing upwelling of deeper water.