The Canary Islands are often shown as a group of small dots in the vast Atlantic Ocean. However, across only a few tens of kilometres, their surrounding waters can shift from sheltered coastal bays and energetic inter-island channels to the open subtropical ocean. This strong environmental contrast makes the archipelago an ideal natural laboratory for observing how the ocean varies and responds to ...[Read More]
Looks can be deceiving: Why high coral cover does not always mean high reef productivity
When most people imagine a coral reef, they picture clear, warm, sunny tropical waters. However, the coral communities of Hong Kong live in a vastly different setting. In the shadows of one of the most densely populated coastlines in the world, these corals persist under highly turbid conditions, receiving relatively little light over the year. Water conditions are also highly seasonal, with large ...[Read More]
Book Review: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Our previous book recommendations were the nonfiction books Blue Machine – How the Ocean Shapes our World by Helen Czerski and Below the Edge of Darkness by Edith Widder as well as the thriller The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. This time, we are stepping away from the ocean. Our next book recommendation is “Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed by Men” by Caroline Criado ...[Read More]
When the atmosphere moves the sea: Meteotsunami waves
Meteotsunamis or meteorological tsunamis are globally occurring progressive shallow water waves with a period of between 2 to 120 minutes which results from an air-sea interaction. They tend to be initiated by sudden pressure changes and wind stress from moving atmospheric systems with sources ranging from convective clouds, cyclones, squalls, thunderstorms, atmospheric gravity waves and strong mi ...[Read More]
More Than a Rain Gauge: When Salt Starts Steering the Sea
Posted in: Ocean Sciences | Reviews & Perspectives | Ocean Science Jubilee Special Issue We usually think of ocean salinity as the ocean’s rain gauge. Rain, rivers, and melting ice freshen the surface; evaporation leaves it saltier. Seen from space, these changing patterns reveal how Earth’s water cycle is evolving, with wet regions generally becoming fresher and dry regions saltier as the cli ...[Read More]
Fifty years of ocean chemistry in one place: GLODAPv3 is here!
Working with marine carbonate-system observations has taught me how much effort lies behind every row of an oceanographic dataset: long hours at sea, careful sampling, laboratory analyses, calibration and quality control. A single bottle of seawater may represent only one place, one depth and one moment, but when many such samples are brought together, they can reveal how the ocean is changing. On ...[Read More]
Can the Ocean Explain Why Climate Models Struggle with the Indian Monsoon?
Few climate phenomena affect as many people as the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). Between June and September, it delivers most of the annual rainfall over the Indian subcontinent, supporting agriculture, water resources, and livelihoods for more than a billion people. Yet predicting how the monsoon will respond to climate change remains a major scientific challenge because it is shaped by complex in ...[Read More]
Book Review: The Swarm by Frank Schätzing
So far, our reading adventures have kept us close to reality with Blue Machine by Helen Czerski and Below the Edge of Darkness by Edith Widder. Now, we are turning to a work of fiction. The author did plenty of research and spoke with scientists, who even appear as characters in the book, resulting in the science-fiction eco-thriller The Swarm. For centuries, humans have treated the ocean as a res ...[Read More]
Join the EGU Ocean Sciences blog team 🌊
The EGU Ocean Sciences division blog is looking for new volunteer editors. So far, the team consists of two early career scientists, Jacqueline and Maurie — both working in ocean biogeochemistry — and we would love to grow. As an editor, you will keep an eye out for interesting new articles and datasets to write about, write short blog posts about ocean related news, and approach other scientists ...[Read More]
Meet Tillys Petit, EGU Ocean Sciences’ 2026 Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award Winner!
On Monday 4 May, Tillys Petit delivered the OS Division Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award Lecture at EGU 2026 in Vienna. We chatted with her about the hidden engines driving the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and why that matters for the future of our climate. Spoiler: it’s not just about the Labrador Sea! 🌊 Can you share your career journey with us? Did you always dream ...[Read More]