Gulf of Panama & The Panama Canal
Today was our second day in Panama and we awoke sailing into the Gulf of Panama, finding some strong currents to slow our progress. This Gulf is famous for having what is known as a seasonal upwelling, which begins right at this time of the year. We are here with perfect timing to witness this phenomenon.
This upwelling is triggered by the influence of the trade winds blowing into Central America. These trade winds bring drier conditions for this season. Locally, we call it the “verano” (the summer) and it is evident at this time of the year. Besides this strong influence over land, these winds are capable of creating nutrient-rich conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Over the isthmus where the mountain range is low enough, the winds with sufficient power will blow away the surface warm sterile water of the Pacific. This effect will replace the warm waters with nutrient-rich cold water from the bottom of the oceans, triggering the upwelling.
Since this is exactly what is happening now in the Gulf of Panama, these waters are teeming with life. The nutrients are enough to support quite a large nesting colony of sea birds like brown pelicans, brown boobies, magnificent frigatebirds and even some blue footed boobies that come to enjoy the food supply.
The rest of the afternoon and evening we were exposed to the incredible process of cruising through the Panama Canal, raising our ship 85 feet about sea level in order to go across the isthmus on our way to the Caribbean. There is no question that the Canal is one of the marvels of the modern world.
Today was our second day in Panama and we awoke sailing into the Gulf of Panama, finding some strong currents to slow our progress. This Gulf is famous for having what is known as a seasonal upwelling, which begins right at this time of the year. We are here with perfect timing to witness this phenomenon.
This upwelling is triggered by the influence of the trade winds blowing into Central America. These trade winds bring drier conditions for this season. Locally, we call it the “verano” (the summer) and it is evident at this time of the year. Besides this strong influence over land, these winds are capable of creating nutrient-rich conditions in the Pacific Ocean. Over the isthmus where the mountain range is low enough, the winds with sufficient power will blow away the surface warm sterile water of the Pacific. This effect will replace the warm waters with nutrient-rich cold water from the bottom of the oceans, triggering the upwelling.
Since this is exactly what is happening now in the Gulf of Panama, these waters are teeming with life. The nutrients are enough to support quite a large nesting colony of sea birds like brown pelicans, brown boobies, magnificent frigatebirds and even some blue footed boobies that come to enjoy the food supply.
The rest of the afternoon and evening we were exposed to the incredible process of cruising through the Panama Canal, raising our ship 85 feet about sea level in order to go across the isthmus on our way to the Caribbean. There is no question that the Canal is one of the marvels of the modern world.
