On the factors influencing the development of sporadic upwelling in the Leeuwin Current system

Sporadic upwelling events along the West Australian coast, particularly within the Leeuwin Current system, exhibit significant variability in both space and time, with the Ningaloo region experiencing the highest frequency of such events—up to 140 days annually. These transient phenomena, lasting 3–10 days, are influenced by upwelling-favorable winds, mesoscale eddies, geostrophic flows, stratification, nitracline, and local topography, leading to intermittent nutrient enrichment that can occur year-round north of 30°S. The study analyzed satellite data over a 15-year period (1995–2010) to quantify these events and their drivers, revealing that while they are most common from September to April, they are not limited to this period.

Rossi, V., Feng, M., Pattiaratchi, C., Roughan, M., & Waite, A. M. (2013). On the factors influencing the development of sporadic upwelling in the Leeuwin Current system. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 118(7), 3608–3621. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrc.20242