The Santa Ana winds, which blow across Southern California, are known to cause dry, fire-hazard conditions inland. But new data gathered by NASA's Quiksat satellite and its SeaWinds instrument shows that these same winds can help stimulate the marine environment. The strong winds blow from the land out to the ocean and cause cold water to rise up from the bottom of the ocean, bringing nutrients to the surface. Quiksat was able to measure the winds, a drop in ocean temperature, and a rise in chlorophyll offshore.