Seasonal Upwelling in Gulf of Panama Failed for First Time in 40 Years
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Scientists have documented that the seasonal ocean upwelling process in the Gulf of Panama did not occur in 2025, marking the first such failure in at least 40 years of records. This event weakened seasonal cooling and reduced ocean productivity, which typically supports fisheries and coral reefs. The findings are among the first major outcomes from a new international research collaboration.
Facts First
- Seasonal upwelling in the Gulf of Panama failed in 2025 for the first time in at least 40 years of records.
- The event weakened seasonal cooling and reduced ocean productivity that normally occurs from January to April.
- Upwelling is driven by strong northern trade winds during Central America's dry season.
- The process fuels fisheries, shields coral reefs from heat stress, and cools coastal waters.
- The findings are a key outcome from a collaboration between the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and the Max Planck Institute.
What Happened
Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) documented that the seasonal upwelling process in the Gulf of Panama did not occur for the first time in their records. The 2025 event resulted in weakened seasonal cooling and a reduced surge in ocean productivity. Scientists published an article in the journal PNAS regarding these findings.
Why this Matters to You
If you live in or visit coastal Panama, you may experience warmer beach waters during the summer vacation season, as upwelling normally keeps them cooler. The health of local fisheries could be affected, as upwelling fuels them by bringing nutrient-rich water to the surface. Coral reefs along the coast may face greater heat stress without the cooling effect of upwelling, which could impact marine ecosystems you might enjoy or depend on.
What's Next
The findings are one of the first major outcomes from the collaboration between the S/Y Eugen Seibold research vessel from the Max Planck Institute and STRI. This suggests further research into tropical upwelling systems is likely to continue. Scientists may now investigate whether this failure is an isolated event or part of a longer-term trend that could affect coastal economies and ecosystems.