Which phenomenon enhances coastal upwelling along the western margins of continents due to Ekman transport effect?

💡 Explanation

When wind blows parallel to western coastlines, the Coriolis effect causes Ekman transport because surface water moves 90 degrees from wind direction; this forces surface water offshore, leading to upwelling. Surface divergence off coast, therefore, results, rather than salinity changes, warm eddies, or thermocline changes which would require different forcing factors.

• Which phenomenon causes stratovolcano formation at subduction zone plate boundaries?
• Which risk increases when coastal engineers use impermeable groynes?
• Which primary mechanism leads to the isolation and eventual formation of an oxbow lake?
• Which outcome during stratovolcano eruption increases landslide risk?
• Which erosional feature results from differential freeze-thaw weathering within a glacial cirque headwall?
• Which risk increases when rapid urbanization constricts a river channel with natural levees?