What occurs to local ocean temperature when a prolonged period of decreased trade winds weakens coastal upwelling?

💡 Explanation

When trade winds diminish, wind-driven upwelling weakens because the density gradient cannot overcome the reduced wind force. Therefore, upwelling of cold, deep water decreases, causing a rise in sea surface temperature, rather than decreased salinity, increased offshore temperatures or amplified layer stratification which require enhanced mixing or pressure effects only attainable via strong winds.

• Which mechanism initially drives the thermohaline circulation following surface water cooling near Greenland?
• Which mechanism causes increased ocean atmospheric CO2 absorption during coastal upwelling events?
• Which mechanism substantially deflects ocean currents flowing from the equator towards higher latitudes?
• Which outcome occurs when the hydraulic gradient decreases sharply along a river flowing into a lake?
• Which biogeochemical consequence results when the slow water circulation within subtropical gyres intensifies due to increased stratification?
• Which consequence results when melting permafrost underlies pipelines?