Why is the ocean around the Cape Verde Islands teeming with life despite lying in one of the most nutrient-poor regions of the Atlantic? A study led by GEOMAR provides answers. By analysing two decades of interdisciplinary observational data, the researchers identified three key small-scale physical processes — eddies, internal waves and wind-driven island wakes — that drive the upward transport of nutrients to the surface. These local dynamics boost biological productivity and shape the distribution of marine species. The study provides a valuable foundation for the further development of a digital twin of the ocean.