Which mechanism causes increased coastal upwelling during strong offshore wind events?

💡 Explanation

When offshore blowing winds occur, Ekman transport moves surface water away from the coast because the wind stress induces a net water movement 90 degrees to wind direction, leading to upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water. Therefore, Ekman transport results, rather than Coriolis deflection, geostrophic balance, or thermohaline differences which describe other oceanic processes.

• Which mechanism causes deflection of prevailing winds, influencing ocean currents and storm tracks, in mid-latitude regions?
• Which mechanism limits the depth of wind-driven oceanic circulation?
• Which process triggers explosive volcanism when magma viscosity and dissolved gas content are both high?
• Which mechanism causes the rapid uplift of land during a large subduction earthquake along a megathrust fault?
• What amplified seismic event creates transoceanic tsunami waves following megathrust earthquakes?
• Which effect results from mountain uplift disturbing prevailing winds?