The Mediterranean Sea has long been known to warm much faster than the global ocean. Within it, the Adriatic Sea is a particularly sensitive basin – due to its small size, representing 5% of the area and only 1% of the volume of the Mediterranean, it reacts rapidly to changes in air-sea interactions, precipitation and …[Read More]
OS Research
A guide to open hydrographic data in the Southern Ocean: seals, floats and ships
How do you study an ocean that is difficult to reach, frequently covered by sea ice, and far from most research institutions? Collecting observations is one challenge. Finding the measurements that already exist can be another. Temperature and salinity profiles reveal how seawater properties change with depth, helping oceanographers identify water masses and investigate the …[Read More]
An archipelago as a natural laboratory: Pioneering ocean monitoring network in the Canary Islands
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 …[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. …[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 …[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 …[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 …[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 …[Read More]
Beyond wind speed: what really controls air-sea gas exchange?
When we think about what drives air-sea gas exchange (such as CO2), wind usually gets all the credit. Strong winds stir the surface, enhance turbulence, and speed up gas transfer. But a new study in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics shows there is more to the story: CO2 exchange does not just follow the wind, it …[Read More]
New Unified Interface for Existing Ocean Carbonate Chemistry Data Products
Here is a great resource for anyone working on ocean carbon: Jiang et al. (2026) compiled a comprehensive synthesis of data products for ocean carbonate chemistry — all in one place for you! The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of 68 existing ocean carbonate chemistry data products and data product sets, including: 🛳️ Cruise-based Compilations …[Read More]