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How do upwellings make the ocean so prosperous? The secret you don't know!
The ocean is one of the most important ecosystems on earth, and its prosperity is closely related to many factors, especially the phenomenon of upwelling. Upwelling is a wind-driven movement that pushes cool, nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean out to the surface, replacing warmer, nutrient-poor surface water. This process promotes the growth and reproduction of primary producers such as phytoplankton, ultimately affecting the health of the entire marine ecosystem.
According to the latest research data, about 25% of the global fish catch comes from five upwelling areas, and these areas only account for 5% of the global ocean area. This clearly shows that upwelling has a significant impact on the abundance of fish and other marine life in the ocean.
These nutrient-rich water bodies not only attract a large number of fish, but also promote ecological diversity and provide a habitat for countless species.
Mechanism of upwelling
The main drivers of upwelling include wind, the Coriolis effect, and Ekman transport. Specifically, when the wind blows along the water surface, it will cause the water molecules to move at a relatively high angle, forming complex water vortices, and ultimately the rise of deep water. During this process, the Coriolis effect deflects water flow to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Through this series of mechanisms, upwelling can not only replenish nutrients on the surface of the ocean, but also create highly productive waters, which is crucial for marine fisheries.
Types of upwelling
There are several main types of upwelling, including coastal upwelling, large-scale wind-driven inland ocean upwelling, and eddy-related upwelling. Coastal upwelling is the best-known type and directly affects some of the world's most important fisheries.
In coastal upwelling, the direction of the wind is parallel to the coast, causing wind-driven currents to be redirected, creating nutrient-rich deep water that rises to the surface, providing nutrients needed by phytoplankton.
Highly productive areas
These upwelling areas are considered some of the most productive ocean areas in the world. Research shows that primary production capacity in upwelling areas accounts for 50% of global ocean productivity. This illustrates that upwelling is critical to the health of the ocean, both from an ecosystem perspective and from a human fisheries perspective.
This data actually means that the abundant phytoplankton in the ocean are not only the basis of the food chain, but also play a key role in maintaining ecological balance.
The impact of human activities
However, upwelling systems are also affected by human activities. Overfishing is a major threat, especially for species in the middle of the food chain, which can have irreversible impacts on entire ecosystems.
For example, if a large number of small pelagic fish such as anchovies or sardines are caught, the higher-level predators that prey on these fish will also be affected, leading to the collapse of the entire food chain and the possible decline of the ecosystem. edge.
The impact of climate change
Upwelling not only affects biodiversity and fisheries, but also has a significant impact on local climate. When upwelling causes the surface temperature of seawater to decrease, this causes the local climate to become relatively dry. For example, in coastal areas of western South America, annual rainfall is low, resulting in a semi-arid and dry climate.
Such climate change may trigger a series of environmental problems, affecting the stability of local communities and ecosystems.
Future challenges
However, according to scientific predictions, as climate change intensifies, the stability of the upwelling system will face huge challenges. Rising ocean temperatures, acidification and other phenomena will "change" the ecological balance of these rich areas, affecting fishery capture and resource sustainability.
So, in the days to come, facing such an important upwelling system, what measures should we take to protect these precious resources related to ecology and economy?
