Does upwelling bring lower sea creatures to top?

1. What does upwelling bring to the top of the ocean?
2. How does upwelling affect marine life?
3. What does an upwelling bring to the surface?
4. Does upwelling cause a decrease in marine organisms?
5. What causes Deepsets?
6. Why are upwellings and Downwellings important for marine environments?
7. Do animals use upwelling?
8. Where does upwelling occur in the ocean?
9. Why is microscopic phytoplankton very important as a food source?
10. Where are Downwellings commonly found?
11. Why does dense deep water upwell in oceans?
12. What are the characteristics of Upwelled water?
13. Why are upwelling zones generally more productive than coastal oceans?
14. Are planktons?
15. Why are cold oceans more productive?

What does upwelling bring to the top of the ocean?

Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity. Therefore, good fishing grounds typically are found where upwelling is common.

How does upwelling affect marine 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.

What does an upwelling bring to the surface?

Upwelling is the natural process which brings cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface.

Does upwelling cause a decrease in marine organisms?

Thermohaline circulation refers to the movement of ocean water in surface currents. Q. Upwelling causes a decrease in marine organisms where it occurs. ... Adding salt to water makes it less dense.

What causes Deepsets?

In contrast to wind-driven surface currents, deep-ocean currents are caused by differences in water density. The process that creates deep currents is called thermohaline circulation—“thermo” referring to temperature and “haline” to saltiness. ... This water also cools and sinks, keeping a deep current in motion.

Why are upwellings and 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.

Do animals use upwelling?

These phytoplankton serve as the ultimate energy base in the ocean for large animal populations higher in the food chain, providing food for fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and other critters. ... Upwelling can also play an important role in the movement of marine animals.

Where does upwelling occur in the ocean?

Upwelling is most common along the west coast of continents (eastern sides of ocean basins). In the Northern Hemisphere, upwelling occurs along west coasts (e.g., coasts of California, Northwest Africa) when winds blow from the north (causing Ekman transport of surface water away from the shore).

Why is microscopic phytoplankton very important as a food source?

They provide the base for the entire marine food web. ... Zooplankton and other small marine creatures eat phytoplankton and then become food for fish, crustaceans, and other larger species. Phytoplankton make their energy through photosynthesis, the process of using chlorophyll and sunlight to create energy.

Where are Downwellings commonly found?

Locations. Downwelling occurs in areas such as in the subpolar gyre of the North Atlantic where several surface currents meet, where cold waters meet warmer waters, such as along the outermost boundary of the Southern Ocean where cold Antarctic water sinks below warmer South Pacific and South Atlantic waters.

Why does dense deep water upwell in oceans?

Winds blow the surface water north and south. This leaves a void that deep water can upwell into. The nutrients rise to the surface and support a great deal of life in the equatorial oceans.

What are the characteristics of Upwelled water?

Upwelling occurs where surface currents are diverging, or moving away from each other. As the surface waters diverge, deeper water must be brought to the surface to replace it, creating upwelling zones. The upwelled water is cold and rich in nutrients, leading to high productivity.

Why are upwelling zones generally more productive than coastal oceans?

***Why are upwelling zones generally more productive than coastal oceans? ... MORE TURBIDITY in coastal waters, which limits the depth reached by solar radiation. Remembering that sunlight & nutrients are necessary for photosynthesis, upwelling brings cold, nutrient-rich waters up from depth to the surface.

Are planktons?

Plankton are marine drifters — organisms carried along by tides and currents. The word “plankton” comes from the Greek for “drifter” or “wanderer.” An organism is considered plankton if it is carried by tides and currents, and cannot swim well enough to move against these forces.

Why are cold oceans more productive?

Why is cold water more productive? Cold water can hold more dissolved oxygen than warm water. The levels of dissolved oxygen in Antarctic waters are so high that many fish have few or no red blood cells (the blood cells other animals, including humans, use to carry oxygen).