upwelling

noun

up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwe-liŋ How to pronounce upwelling (audio)
: the process or an instance of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward
especially : the process of upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper cold usually nutrient-rich waters especially along some shores due to the offshore movement of surface waters (as from the action of winds and the Coriolis force)

Examples of upwelling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web However, an incredible turnaround followed at the start of the Ordovician; upwelling brought cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in oceans to the surface, moderating the sulfidic conditions. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 This is not exactly an upwelling of compassion, and even so Carlson rushes to qualify it. A.o. Scott, New York Times, 3 May 2023 Given an upwelling of colder than usual water shown on sea surface temperature maps along most of the Atlantic Coast right now, Brothers figures the seabirds might have been just following fish until finding themselves far off course. USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2024 So, researchers think that its subduction process is triggered by a bout of volcanic upwelling followed by a longer-lasting sagging. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 The massive effort would use artificial upwelling to supplement the region’s naturally low nutrient levels, said marine biogeochemist Miriam Philippi from the Alfred Wegener Institute, a scientific adviser for the project. Saima May Sidik, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024 In the Middle Holocene, modern conditions started to develop: coastal fog and coastal redwoods increased, as did coastal upwelling and ocean productivity, Palmer said. Claire Hao, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2023 It’s believed that’s where the upwelling of magma is. Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023 The waters off the West Coast, from California to Washington, typically have large quantities of krill in the summer due to a seasonal upwelling of cold, nutrient-dense water. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upwelling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upwelling was in 1868

Dictionary Entries Near upwelling

Cite this Entry

“Upwelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upwelling. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

upwelling

noun
up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwel-iŋ How to pronounce upwelling (audio)
: the process or an example of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward
especially : the process of movement of deeper cooler layers of ocean water that are often rich in nourishing substances to the surface

More from Merriam-Webster on upwelling

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