Advances in the understanding of the horizontal and vertical exchanges in coastal upwelling regions are reviewed. The evolution of understanding from early twodimensional time-invariant ideas of the system to present-day concepts of a threedimensional, constantly changing system is traced. These advances have followed in the wake of increasingly sophisticated observational and computational techniques that have provided unprecedented views of the ocean. Our present understanding is explored through the examples of processes near shore, upwelling and relaxation in the upper layers, cold filaments and long term trends. On the basis of these examples, the biogeochemical implications are explored and possible priorities for future research are suggested

Symposium GLOBEC–IMBER España, Valencia, 28-30 marzo 2007

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