upwelling

noun

up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwe-liŋ 

: the process or an instance of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward

especially : the process of upward movement to the ocean surface of deeper cold usually nutrient-rich waters especially along some shores due to the offshore movement of surface waters (as from the action of winds and the Coriolis force)

Examples of upwelling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The algae can flourish during upwellings, when winds blow from north to south along the coast, pushing water offshore and bringing nutrient-rich deep water to the surface. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025

Accordingly, the regions where milky seas are most commonly spotted experience upwelling, when strong winds churn cold, nutrient-rich water toward the surface of the ocean. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025

Mantle plumes are convectional upwellings of hot material from the deep mantle that can cause localized melting and deformations to the overlying crust. —New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025

Now, a process called upwelling is responsible for pushing the acid into the aquatic food chain. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upwelling

• bookselling
• compelling
• dispelling
• excelling
• expelling
• foretelling
• impelling
• indwelling
• labelling
• marvelling
• misspelling
• modelling

Kids Definition

upwelling

noun

up·​well·​ing ˌəp-ˈwel-iŋ 

: the process or an example of rising or appearing to rise to the surface and flowing outward

especially : the process of movement of deeper cooler layers of ocean water that are often rich in nourishing substances to the surface