Research report 2025 - Max Planck Institute for Chemistry
Upwelling failure in the Gulf of Panama
Authors
O’Dea, Aaron; Sellers, Andrew J.; Pérez-Medina, Carmen; Díaz, Javier Pardo; Guzman Bloise, Alexandra; Pöhlker, Christopher; Chiliński, Michał T.; Aardema, Hedy M.; Cybulski, Jonathan D.; Heins, Lena; Paton, Steven R.; Slagter, Hans A.; Schiebel, Ralf; Haug, Gerald H.
Departments
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie, Mainz
Summary
In 2025, the upwelling of nutrient-rich deep-water in the Gulf of Panama failed for the first time since records began 40 years ago, which had a significant impact on fisheries. Fewer nutrients in the surface waters entail less algae growth at the base of the food web and ultimately fewer fish. Our study, conducted in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), suggests that changed and weaker trade winds could not trigger sufficient upwelling. This demonstrates how climate influences ocean processes, and, consequently, the human societies who depend on the sea.