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Downwelling is a process in oceanography where surface water sinks into deeper ocean layers. This occurs in areas of water convergence, where surface currents meet and are forced downward.12

Downwelling is part of the larger ocean circulation system, driven by factors like wind, water density, and gravity. While wind-driven currents are more vigorous, density-driven thermohaline circulation, which includes downwelling, is a slower but global process. Downwelling is often associated with subtropical ocean waters, such as the Sargasso Sea, and these areas tend to be nutrient-poor and have less marine life compared to regions with upwelling.132

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