Downwelling

Downwelling is the inverse phenomenon of upwelling.

In fact, when two bodies of water (or air, or rock, since the phenomenon exists in the atmosphere and the lithosphere) meet, they only mix superficially. The denser mass (high salinity, cold) plunges under the lighter mass (lower salinity, warm) creating a water current that moves downwards. Sometimes, the two bodies of water plunge in unison.

Zones where these bodies of water meet are called convergence zones.

Coastal downwelling

A downwelling phenomenon can also occur along the coast, under the effects of the wind.

Two cases are possible:

• the wind blows towards the coast, the water accumulates along the coast and plunges along the sea floor to compensate for the influx of surface water;
• the wind blows parallel to the coast and causes a swell current deflected by the Coriolis force towards the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and towards the left in the Southern Hemisphere. When this current is directed towards the coast, a compensation current forms and causes downwelling.

With upwelling, downwelling is the engine that drives the conveyor belt of thermohaline circulation.