What Is The Difference Between OIF And Artificial Ocean Upwelling?
Primary productivity in the ocean is continuously supplied with nutrients when deep ocean waters mix to the surface, bringing nutrients that have been regenerated from decomposing organic material. This upwelling is one component of vertical nutrient recycling in the ocean. The biologic pump, which moves organic carbon from the surface to deep waters is the other. In some areas of the ocean, vertical mixing is strongest during the winter (e.g. high latitudes), which replenishes nutrients on an annual basis. In other areas, mixing is relatively constant throughout the year (e.g. tropics). In general, upwelled deep waters are richer than surface waters in macro-nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates and micro-nutrients such as iron. Deep waters are also highly enriched in carbon, which can reenter the atmosphere upon upwelling. “Artificial upwelling” is a technique that uses underwater tubes to uplift deep water to the surface. The upward flow of water through these tubes is driven by
