Final answer:
Ocean upwelling is the rising of nutrient-rich deep ocean waters to the surface due to prevailing winds blowing surface waters away from coastlines, commonly occurring along the western coasts of continents. It recycles nutrients vital for marine life, supporting high biological productivity and contributing to global fisheries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ocean upwelling is the process of deep, nutrient-rich water rising to the surface of the ocean. This occurs when prevailing winds blow surface waters away from a coastline, and the displaced water is replaced by water that moves up from the bottom of the ocean. This movement of water brings nutrients from the deep to the surface, making them available for phytoplankton, which are the foundation of the marine food web. These nutrients are crucial for photosynthesis and the overall energy systems in the ocean.
Most coastal upwellings happen along the western coasts of continents, especially where wind patterns are consistent. Places like the west coast of South America, the west coast of North America, the west coast of Africa, and the western coasts of the Indian Peninsula are known for their significant upwelling zones.
Through the process of upwelling, the energy and nutrients contained in organic matter that has fallen to the ocean bottom—such as dead organisms—are recycled and made available again, supporting new life and contributing to high levels of biological productivity in water columns overlying upwelling areas. This biological productivity sustains diverse marine ecosystems and is integral to global fisheries.