Pacific Subtropical Convergence

The Pacific Subtropical Convergence is a region in the Pacific Ocean where ocean currents converge, leading to sinking surface water. This convergence is associated with subtropical gyres, which are large systems of rotating ocean currents located beneath subtropical high-pressure zones.12

These gyres are influenced by the Earth's rotation and atmospheric circulation patterns. The sinking water in the subtropical convergence zones contributes to deepwater circulation, where cold water generated near Antarctica spreads northward. The convergence zones in the Pacific are located between approximately 35° and 40° N and S latitude. This process plays a role in the broader patterns of ocean circulation and influences marine ecosystems by affecting species distribution and larval transport.31