downwelling
Surface water plunging
Downwelling is the sinking of surface water in oceans or lakes, typically where currents converge or where cold, dense water forms.
The opposite of upwelling, downwelling carries oxygen-rich surface water to deeper layers but pushes nutrients away from the surface, making these zones less productive for marine life.
The term also applies to atmospheric processes where air descends.
Density-driven ocean movement
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- circulationMovement through a system
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
- haloclineSharp saltiness change layer
stratification · density · currents · gyre · deepwater · ventilation · water column · polar
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- deep oceanSea's lowest regions
- carbon sinkCO2 storage reservoir
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
detritus · respiration · decomposition · sediment · benthos · cold water · dissolved oxygen · climate regulation
Of the air above
- air massAtmospheric volume, consistent temperature
- high pressureStrong force per area
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
- anticycloneHigh-pressure weather system
inversion · compression · warming · clear skies · divergence · troposphere · ridge · dry air
thermohaline
Density-driven ocean movement
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- circulationMovement through a system
- thermoclineRapid temperature-change layer
halocline · stratification · density · currents · gyre · deepwater · ventilation · water column · polar · sinking
carbon sequestration
Removing and storing atmospheric CO2
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- deep oceanSea's lowest regions
- carbon sinkCO2 storage reservoir
phytoplankton · detritus · respiration · decomposition · sediment · benthos · cold water · dissolved oxygen · climate regulation
atmospheric
Of the air above
- air massAtmospheric volume, consistent temperature
- high pressureStrong force per area
- subsidenceGradual ground sinking
anticyclone · inversion · compression · warming · clear skies · divergence · troposphere · ridge · dry air · suppression
- deep ocean currents
- Ocean Phenomenatsunami, tides, rogue wave, ocean current, swells
- water motionsplash, pour, flow, trickle, gush
- oceanographyoceanography, oceanographer, sonar, marine science, ocean circulation
- ocean processesocean currents, currents, waves, tides, El Nino
- sea phenomenawaves, tides, currents, storm surges, rogue waves