Which mechanism causes enhanced coastal upwelling when trade winds weaken along the equator?

💡 Explanation

When trade winds weaken, Ekman transport decreases because wind stress forcing on the ocean surface diminishes, reducing the offshore movement of surface water, thus diminishing the force of upwelling currents. Therefore reduced Ekman transport directly influences upwelling rather than instability, thermohaline convection, or current alteration causing the upwelling.

• Which crustal deformation occurs when a subducting oceanic plate's asperities overcome resistance along the plate interface?
• Which effect arises from differing velocities along a transform fault boundary?
• Which mechanism increases flood extent past a levee during a prolonged river flood?
• Which mechanism causes the formation of hanging valleys within a fjord's upper reaches?
• Which erosional outcome occurs where strike-slip motion terminates along transform boundaries between oceanic plates?
• Which process initiates the formation of an alluvial fan deposit in arid regions?