Upwelling in a body of water is a process by which subsurface water rises toward the surface. Since water temperature generally decreases with depth, the upwelled water is colder than the surface water it replaces. Thus, sea-surface temperatures are characteristically lower in areas of upwelling. Infrared imagery provides information on the position and strength of the surface thermal gradients associated with upwelled water. The gray-shade patterns may appear as bands of lighter gray shades (colder temperatures) extending along coastlines. The pattern may also show plumes of cold water or cold eddies intruding into the warmer waters further offshore. See figure 3-1-5.

Learning Objective: Recognize how internal waves may be detected using satellite imagery.

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