Food from the Deep

The Patagonian shelf upwelling is a unique system driven by deep sea currents and bottom topography rather than wind, providing a year-round supply of nutrients that supports major fisheries and carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic.

• Coastal upwelling regions represent only 1% of the total ocean surface but are responsible for nearly 50% of global fisheries' landings and a significant portion of overall ocean production.
• Unlike most global upwellings which are wind-driven and temporary, the Patagonian shelf upwelling is driven by deep sea currents and bottom topography, making it active throughout the entire year.
• The upwelling mechanism involves the Malvinas Current flowing northward along the continental slope, creating a pressure gradient that drives water toward the shore and forces an upward flow of nutrient-rich water.
• The nutrient-rich waters support a diverse food chain including phytoplankton, anchovies, hake, hoki, squid, and scallops, and the influence of this system extends as far north as Uruguay and southern Brazil.
• The biological production resulting from this upwelling contributes to the ocean's capacity to act as a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2010). Food from the Deep. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot5_food_from_the_deep_EN.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Food from the Deep. 2010. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot5_food_from_the_deep_EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Food from the Deep |date=2010 |url=https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot5_food_from_the_deep_EN.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2010food, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Food from the Deep}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2010}, url = {https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/snapshot5_food_from_the_deep_EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }