A 40-Year First: In 2025, the Deep, Cold Waters Off Panama's Coast Didn't Surface

A 40-Year First: In 2025, the Deep, Cold Waters off Panama's Coast Didn't Surface

Each year, along the peaceful coasts of Panama, an essential oceanographic phenomenon occurs: upwelling. This process brings up to the surface of deep, cold and rich nutrients, supporting the productivity of local peaches and protecting coral reefs from overheating. Until 2025, this seasonal cycle seemed as reliable as the return of the seasons. But this year, for the first time in at least four decades, no rise in cold water took place in the G…

For the first time in 40 years, Panama’s deep and cold ocean waters failed to emerge, possibly affecting fisheries and coral health - Scientific Inquirer

During the dry season in Central America (generally between December and April), northern trade winds generate upwelling events in the ocean waters of the Gulf of Panama. Upwelling is a process that allows cold, nutrient-rich waters from the depths of the ocean to rise to the surface. This dynamic supports highly productive fisheries and helps protect coral reefs from thermal stress. Thanks to this movement of water, the sea along Panama’s Pacif…