OS Research

An archipelago as a natural laboratory: Pioneering ocean monitoring network in the Canary Islands

David Curbelo-Hernández September 25, 2026

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

Alex S.J. Wyatt and Timothy B. King September 17, 2026

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]

When the atmosphere moves the sea: Meteotsunami waves

Clare Lewis August 10, 2026

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

Lisan Yu July 30, 2026

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]

Can the Ocean Explain Why Climate Models Struggle with the Indian Monsoon?

Sankar Prasad Lahiri July 9, 2026

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]

Meet Tillys Petit, EGU Ocean Sciences’ 2026 Outstanding Early Career Scientist Award Winner!

Maurie Keppens May 5, 2026

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]

Beyond wind speed: what really controls air-sea gas exchange?

Yuanxu Dong April 23, 2026

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 is also directly affected by surface conditions (Fig. 1). Using the eddy covariance te ...[Read More]

New Unified Interface for Existing Ocean Carbonate Chemistry Data Products

Li-Qing Jiang April 16, 2026

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 📈 Time-series Datasets 🗂️ Gap-filled Observati ...[Read More]

How atmospheric circulation patterns high above the Southern Ocean influence the deepest layers of the global ocean

Matthis Auger March 27, 2026

The ocean surrounding Antarctica plays a crucial role in the climate system. Along parts of the Antarctic coast, very cold and salty water becomes dense enough to sink all the way to the ocean floor. This process forms Antarctic Bottom Water: the deepest water mass in the global ocean, representing about 40% of its total volume. As this dense water sinks into the abyss, it helps trap heat and carb ...[Read More]

A synergy of observations: Filling the gaps in an ocean colour chlorophyll-a record

Daniel J. Ford February 20, 2026

Chlorophyll-a (chl-a), as the dominant photosynthetic pigment within phytoplankton, provides an indication of the phytoplankton biomass and are essential for understanding global and regional changes in primary production in the oceans. Multiple ocean colour satellites have unlocked routine synoptical scale observations of chl-a which now extends from 1997 to the present day. Differing numbers of ...[Read More]