Internal Kelvin waves in the ocean are frequently forced by wind changes near coastal areas. For example, a southward wind along the west coast of a continent in the northern hemisphere generates an Ekman layer at the ocean surface, in which the mass flow is away from the coast (to the right of the applied wind stress).
The mass flux in the near-surface layer is compensated by the movement of deeper water toward the coast, which raises the thermocline.

An upward movement of the thermocline, as indicated by the dashed line is called upwelling.

The vertical movement of the thermocline in the wind-forced region then propagates poleward along the coast as an internal Kelvin wave.