Fluorescent Dye Reveals Deep Ocean Water Rising 10,000 Times Faster Than Average

Times of India · science

Scientists have directly observed deep ocean water rising approximately 100 metres per day in a North Atlantic submarine canyon, a rate around 10,000 times the global average. In 2021, researchers released fluorescent dye nearly 1,870 metres deep in the Rockall Trough, northwest of Ireland. Tracking the dye revealed vigorous upward mixing along the canyon slope, addressing a long-standing question about how deep ocean water returns to the surface. This upwelling is crucial for the ocean's circulation and its role in regulating Earth's climate.