Levon Azizyan, Director of the Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring, SNCO, wrote on his Facebook page:
“As a result of climate change, an exceptional phenomenon has been recorded in the Gulf of Panama – a pause in upwelling, which can have a profound impact on local ecosystems and tourism.
Studies by scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) have shown that in 2025, for the first time in the history of observations, the traditional seasonal upwelling of the Gulf of Panama has stopped. The reason is the weakening of the trade winds. This event emphasizes the substantial impact of climate change on key oceanographic processes and coastal ecosystems.
During the dry season (mainly December-April), the northern trade winds in Central America cause upwelling in the waters of the Gulf. During this process, cold, nutrient-rich water from deep in the ocean rises to the surface. This provides high productivity for fishing and protects coral reefs from heat stress. In addition, upwelling keeps the sea on Panama’s Pacific coast cooler during the tourist season.
Scientists believe that this unprecedented event is due to a significant change in wind patterns; however, further studies are needed to determine the exact causes and their potential consequences for fishing.
