downwelling (sinking) The downward movement of surface waters caused by the convergence of different water masses in the open ocean, or where surface waters flow towards the coast. An example of the latter is found along the Washington—Oregon coast in winter. The Antarctic convergence zone is a major downwelling region in the Southern Ocean and is the source of Antarctic intermediate waters.

downwelling(sinking) The downward movement of surface waters caused by the convergence of different water masses in the open ocean, or where surface waters flow towards the coast. An example of the latter is found along the Washington–Oregon coast in winter. The Antarctic convergence zone is a major downwelling region in the Southern Ocean and is the source of Antarctic intermediate waters.