Downwelling

Downwelling is the process of accumulation and sinking of warm surface waters along a coastline. A change of air flow of the atmosphere can result in the sinking or downwelling of warm surface water. The resulting reduced nutrient supply near the surface affects the ocean productivity and meteorological conditions of the coastal regions in the downwelling area. Upwelling is the opposite process and together these two forces are responsible for the global conveyor belt.