Oceanologists from the University of Delaware studied the influence of upwelling on the formation of western boundary
As the authors of the work note, strongsubsurface upwelling was observed in all areas in each data set. Researchers say vertical water transport systems provide geostrophic equilibrium in western boundary currents.
At the same time, the researchers emphasize that as a force,and the vertical extent of upwelling in the areas of the western boundary currents differ significantly from those in the eastern systems. A strong rise in water, for example, can be seen at depths of 1,000 m and below, especially near the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio. According to the researchers, such deep processes have never been observed in the eastern currents.
In addition, the study shows that inIn subtropical regions, upwelling plays a role in the vertical movement of heat and carbon, which affects the development of life in the upper layers of the ocean and changes in the atmosphere over a long time.
As scientists note, many studies previouslyhave focused on these vertical movements in the ocean in the eastern boundary currents, along the equator, and in the Southern Ocean. However, in the western boundary currents, due to the high speed of horizontal transport and powerful eddies, this phenomenon remained poorly studied for a long time.
Oceanologists believe that further upwelling studies will help us better understand the influence of the ocean on climate change.
Cover image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio
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