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This study presents a high-resolution record of δ15Nsed, which serves as a proxy for water column denitrification and oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) intensity, from the Soledad Basin in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific OMZ. The Soledad Basin δ15Nsed record is compared to the Pescadero Slope and Santa Barbara Basin (SBB) δ15Nsed records to gain insight into regional variations in the ETNP OMZ. During the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; 950–1250 CE), Soledad Basin, Pescadero Slope, and SBB records exhibit coherent trends suggesting that there was general water column oxygenation stability. During the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1350–1850 CE), Soledad Basin and SBB showed a similar decreasing trend in δ15Nsed values while the Pescadero Slope δ15Nsed exhibited an increasing trend until values abruptly declined between 1740 and 1840 CE. We suggest that increased δ15Nsed variability and the different trends at the Pescadero Slope during the LIA are due to the influence of the North American monsoon (NAM), which can suppress upwelling when enhanced and result in OMZ contraction. The decoupling between the Soledad Basin, SBB, and the Pescadero Slope could also be due to the increased influence of enriched 15NO3− subarctic waters in the California Current System. Since each site is influenced by local productivity, basin morphology, and regional atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns, we suggest that assessing OMZ fluctuations from multiple sites provides a more comprehensive view of regional OMZ dynamics in response to climate variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that the first red tide reported on the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula was due to Lingulodinium polyedra, knowledge about their frequency and, particularly, about the environmental conditions contributing to bloom initiation is still scarce. For this reason, L. polyedra bloom episodes were observed and studied in three Galician rias during the summer season based on the 1993–2008 record database period; additionally, samples were collected in summer 2008. Proliferations of L. polyedra occurred in the rias of Ares and Barqueiro in June and August, respectively, while in the Ria of Coruña, they persisted from the end of June to early September. Red tides developed when the surface temperature reached 17 °C, with "seasonal thermal window" conditions, and when salinities were ≥30, i.e., an "optimal salinity window"; when these parameters were lower than these thresholds, cyst germination decreased. A cyst transport mechanism from sediments to the surface must also exist; this mechanism was found to be natural (tidal currents) in the ria of Barqueiro or anthropogenic (dredging) in the rias of Ares and Coruña. Surface temperatures during summer were usually favorable for cyst germination (85 to 100%) during the 1993–2008 period; however, water temperatures below 10 m depth only rarely reached the 17 °C threshold (2 to 18%). During this 16-year period, dredging activities could explain 71% (Coruña) and 44% (Ares) of the recorded bloom events. When a bloom episode developed in early summer, favorable conditions did not lead to a new red tide, probably due to the lag period required by cysts for germination. Moreover, blooms did not develop when high densities of diatoms (>1,000,000 cells·L−1) remained in the water column as a result of summer upwelling pulses occurring in specific years. The temperature–sediment disturbance pattern found in this study provides a useful tool for the prevention of eventual risks resulting from red tides of this dinoflagellate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CTDs, devices that measure salinity (via conductivity), temperature, and depth in the ocean, are essential for almost all marine scientific research, whether oceanography, ecology, conservation, or management. But CTDs are often cost-prohibitive, making this essential tool of ocean science inaccessible to the majority of ocean knowledge seekers. The OpenCTD is a low-cost, open-source oceanographic instrument, built from relatively accessible components, that allows ocean knowledge seekers to collect data on salinity, temperature, and depth in waters as deep as 140 m, with depth accurate to <1 cm, temperature to ±0.1°C, and a salinity error rate of 1%, with a 90% response time of 1 second. The OpenCTD is an open, adaptable platform that allows users to integrate other sensors (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH) to fit their specific needs or questions. The utility of the OpenCTD for both STEM education and community oceanography is demonstrated in real-world case studies. The OpenCTD offers researchers, community groups, educators, managers, and other ocean knowledge seekers the ability to collect baseline data about their local waters at a fraction of the cost of commercial alternatives and, for most use cases, with comparable data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GEOTRACES is an international endeavor to elucidate the biogeo-chemical cycles of trace elements and their isotopes in the ocean. Inherently, this interdisciplinary program provides ample opportunities for students to develop professional, academic, and seagoing skills. This perspective recalls first-hand experiences gained from five years in the GEOTRACES community, spanning undergraduate and graduate research, including international engagement in Germany and seagoing oceanography in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean. Description of these opportunities reveals the framework that makes the GEOTRACES program a success and the culture that will ensure its ongoing legacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2016, the Argo (Array for Real-Time Geostrophic Oceanography) ocean salinity data has exhibited significant drift, directly affecting the accurate quantification of the global steric sea level (SSL) rates. To further investigate how salinity drift affects the estimation of SSL rates in different depths and regions, we divide the 0–2000 m into three layers (0–300 m, 300–1000 m and 1000–2000 m) and select five open oceans (the South and North Pacific, the South and North Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean) for discussion. By comparing the SSL rates between the periods of 2005–2015 and 2005–2019, we can evaluate the impact of salinity drift. Taking the estimated results from the IPRC (provided by the International Pacific Research Center at the University of Hawaii) and BOA (provided by the Second Institute of Oceanography, China) data as examples, we find that the effect of salinity drift is the largest at the depth of 1000–2000 m, about 29% for IPRC data and about 18% for BOA data. Moreover, the South Atlantic is susceptible to the effects of salinity drift, with an approximately 13% impact for IPRC data and 21% for BOA data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic ice shelves are losing mass at drastically different rates, primarily due to differing rates of oceanic heat supply to their bases. However, a generalized theory for the inflow of relatively warm water into ice shelf cavities is lacking. This study proposes such a theory based on a geostrophically constrained inflow, combined with a threshold bathymetric elevation, the Highest Unconnected isoBath (HUB), that obstructs warm water access to ice shelf grounding lines. This theory captures ∼ 90% of the variance in melt rates across a suite of idealized process‐oriented ocean/ice shelf simulations with quasi‐randomized geometries. Applied to observations of ice shelf geometries and offshore hydrography, the theory captures ∼80% of the variance in measured ice shelf melt rates. These findings provide a generalized theoretical framework for melt resulting from buoyancy‐driven warm water access to geometrically complex Antarctic ice shelf cavities. Plain Language Summary: The floating extensions of Antarctic glaciers ("ice shelves") are losing ice at drastically different rates. A large component of this ice loss is due to melting from below by relatively warm ocean waters, which typically lie hundreds of meters below the surface. Previous studies have attempted to predict ice shelf melt rates using knowledge of the interface between the ice and the ocean. However, these relationships struggle to capture the variations in melt rates around Antarctica, in part because they do not account for obstruction of warm water access by variations in the shae of the seafloor. In this study we introduce a theory for the rate at which warm waters access Antarctica's ice shelves, which indirectly predicts how much the ice shelf melts. This theory is grounded in the assumption that the ocean flow beneath cavities is dominated by the rotation of the earth, and utilizes a novel quantification of seafloor obstruction of warm water inflows. We show that this theory is successful at predicting melt in simulations of ice shelves of different shapes, and in observations of real ice shelves. This work provides a theoretical grounding for melt resulting from warm subsurface waters flowing underneath Antarctic ice shelves. Key Points: We introduce a new theoretical framework for inflow of warm water into ice shelf cavities based on geostrophically‐constrained circulationA new metric, the Highest Unconnected Isobath (HUB), quantifies bathymetric barriers to warm water access in complex geometriesOur HUB‐informed theoretical framework is able to accurately predict melt rates across a suite of idealized models and observational data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a generalised characterisation of the surface circulation over the northern shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz, based on 4 years of high-resolution satellite altimetry data from Sentinel-3A and wind model data. The altimetry-based surface zonal currents, adjusted for bottom-drag and wind effects, are compared with a generic CMEMS product and validated against in-situ ADCP measurements. The proposed altimetry product demonstrates superior performance than the CMEMS product, accurately reflecting surface circulation direction compared to in-situ measurements (r = 0.77, RMSE = 0.10 m/s, bias = 0.01 m/s). The use of the bottom-drag and wind-corrected/uncorrected altimetry product for spatiotemporal analysis of the shelf circulation revealed the distinct contributions of wind-driven and geostrophic components in different basin sectors. The results show that over the western basin, positive (eastward) surface currents were predominantly driven by westerly winds, while only occasionally, westward flows coincided with easterly winds, suggesting a higher control of the geostrophic component over the westward flows. In contrast, over the eastern basin, both eastward and westward flows were found to be primarily driven by favourable winds. Additionally, the analysis of Absolute Dynamic Topography (ADT) values along the whole basin showed the presence of ADT gradients both along-shore and cross-shore over the shelf, contributing to geostrophic flows. Finally, the seasonal analysis showed that eastward circulation tends to dominate during the spring and summer months, related to the upwelling season in the Gulf of Cadiz and associated westerly winds. Westward flows prevail during the winter months, related to easterly winds and the rebalancing of the along-shore sea level gradient during relaxed upwelling conditions. The findings demonstrate a significant improvement in the use of satellite altimetry data to study complex oceanographic dynamics in coastal areas, where both spatial and temporal variability are high. Moreover, the similarity of our results to those obtained from in-situ systems supports the use of altimetry data and publicly available wind models to support oceanographic studies in remote or resource-limited areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship weather routing, which involves suggesting low-emission routes, holds potential for contributing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport. However, including because of a lack of readily deployable open-source and open-language computational models, its quantitative impact has been explored only to a limited extent. As a response, the graph-search VISIR (discoVerIng Safe and effIcient Routes) model has been refactored in Python, incorporating novel features. For motor vessels, the angle of attack of waves has been considered, while for sailboats the combined effects of wind and sea currents are now accounted for. The velocity composition with currents has been refined, now encompassing leeway as well. Provided that the performance curve is available, no restrictions are imposed on the vessel type. A cartographic projection has been introduced. The graph edges are quickly screened for coast intersection via a K -dimensional tree. A least-CO 2 algorithm in the presence of dynamic graph edge weights has been implemented and validated, proving a quasi-linear computational performance. The software suite's modularity has been significantly improved, alongside a thorough validation against various benchmarks. For the visualisation of the dynamic environmental fields along the route, isochrone-bounded sectors have been introduced. The resulting VISIR-2 model has been employed in numerical experiments within the Mediterranean Sea for the entirety of 2022, utilising meteo-oceanographic analysis fields. For a 125 m long ferry, the percentage saving of overall CO 2 expenditure follows a bi-exponential distribution. Routes with a carbon dioxide saving of at least 2 % with respect to the least-distance route were found for prevailing beam or head seas. Two-digit savings, up to 49 %, were possible for about 10 d in a year. In the case of an 11 m sailboat, time savings increased with the extent of path elongation, particularly during upwind sailing. The sailboat's routes were made approximately 2.4 % faster due to optimisation, with the potential for an additional 0.8 % in savings by factoring in currents. VISIR-2 serves as an integrative model, uniting expertise from meteorology, oceanography, ocean engineering, and computer science, to evaluate the influence of ship routing on decarbonisation efforts within the shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the latest Permian mass extinction (LPME), abundant unusual sedimentary features and fabrics were widely distributed in Early Triassic carbonate platforms. As a unique type of carbonate grain, spheroids from the Lower Triassic are infrequently reported, yet differ significantly from giant ooids and oncoids. Griesbachian micritic spheroids are well preserved in the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation at the Baimiaozi (BMZ) outcrop in Beibei, Chongqing, southwestern China. These spheroids (diameter: 3.9–10.8 mm) were in a marl layer interbedded with massive oolites. They were deposited in the wave troughs of ripple marks comprising micritic clots, sparry calcite, clay minerals, organic matter and pyrite. A microbial spheroid origin is implied based on the coccoidal microbes (coccoid‐like microspherules and bacterial clump‐like microspherules), numerous pyrite framboids (indications suggest the presence of many sulphate‐reducing bacteria and the high iron content in seawater can promote nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacteria proliferation) and microbial‐derived microspherules. The dark‐coloured matrix between the spheroids primarily included microcrystalline calcite, clay minerals, organic matter and metazoan fossils. The spherical and ellipsoidal shapes of the spheroids suggested rapid accretion and lithification. As a unique carbonate depositional mode, Greisbachian spheroids may have been recorded for a palaeo‐ocean with dysoxic and calcium carbonate supersaturation shortly after the LPME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food resources in the ocean are often found in low densities, and need to be concentrated for efficient consumption. This is done in part by oceanographic features transporting and locally concentrating plankton, creating a highly patchy resource. Lagrangian approaches applied to ocean dynamics can identify these transport features, linking Lagrangian transport and spatial ecology. However, little is known about how Lagrangian approaches perform in ageostrophic coastal flows. This study evaluates two Lagrangian Coherent Structure metrics against the distribution of phytoplankton; Finite Time Lyapunov Exponents (FTLE) and Relative Particle Density (RPD). FTLE and RPD are applied to High Frequency Radar (HFR) observed surface currents within a biological hotspot, Palmer Deep Canyon Antarctica. FTLE and RPD identify different transport patterns, with RPD mapping single particle trajectories and FTLE tracking relative motion of paired particles. Simultaneous measurements of circulation and phytoplankton were gathered through the integration of vessel and autonomous glider surveys within the HFR footprint. Results show FTLE better defined phytoplankton patches compared to RPD, with the strongest associations occurring in stratified conditions, suggesting that phytoplankton congregate along FTLE ridges in coastal flows. This quantified relationship between circulation and phytoplankton patches emphasizes the role of transport in the maintenance of coastal food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing dynamics are one of the most poorly constrained components of the marine carbon cycle. We use inverse modeling to infer the distribution of community‐integrated zooplankton grazing dynamics based on the ability of different grazing formulations to recreate the satellite‐observed seasonal cycle in phytoplankton biomass after controlling for physical and bottom‐up controls. We find large spatial variability in the optimal community‐integrated half saturation concentration for grazing (K1/2), with lower (higher) values required in more oligotrophic (eutrophic) biomes. This leads to a strong sigmoidal relationship between observed mean‐annual phytoplankton biomass and the optimally inferred grazing parameterization. This relationship can be used to help constrain, validate and/or parameterize next‐generation biogeochemical models. Plain Language Summary: To improve predictions of the ocean's ability to feed a growing human population and buffer a changing climate, we need to improve our understanding of what happens to carbon once it is absorbed into the surface ocean. One of the largest knowledge gaps in marine carbon cycling is the role of zooplankton grazing. The rate at which zooplankton graze phytoplankton modifies the size and seasonal evolution of phytoplankton populations and in turn, the associated rates of net primary production at the base of the food‐web, secondary production of grazers (an indicator of fisheries potential) and export production (the biological sequestration of carbon). However, regional differences in grazing, which are difficult to measure outside of the laboratory, remain poorly constrained by observations and thus difficult to model. Here, we run a suite of model simulations, which each simulate grazing differently, then compare the results to infer which grazing dynamics best match observations. We find that there is dramatic spatial variability in how zooplankton, as a community, appear to be grazing and that this variability maps well onto observed phytoplankton abundance, suggesting that the type of zooplankton present may be determined by the amount of prey available. Key Points: Oligotrophic (eutrophic) biomes exhibit more (less) efficient community‐integrated grazing, characteristic of micro‐ (meso‐) zooplanktonWe find a strong link between observed mean‐annual phytoplankton biomass and the grazing dynamics required to recreate its seasonal cycleA type III functional response typically does a better job recreating observed phytoplankton seasonal cycles than a type II response [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean carbon reservoir controls atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on millennial timescales. Radiocarbon (14C) anomalies in eastern North Pacific sediments suggest a significant release of geologic 14C‐free carbon at the end of the last ice age but without evidence of ocean acidification. Using inverse carbon cycle modeling optimized with reconstructed atmospheric CO2 and 14C/C, we develop first‐order constraints on geologic carbon and alkalinity release over the last 17.5 thousand years. We construct scenarios allowing the release of 850–2,400 Pg C, with a maximum release rate of 1.3 Pg C yr−1, all of which require an approximate equimolar alkalinity release. These neutralized carbon addition scenarios have minimal impacts on the simulated marine carbon cycle and atmospheric CO2, thereby demonstrating safe and effective ocean carbon storage. This deglacial phenomenon could serve as a natural analog to the successful implementation of gigaton‐scale ocean alkalinity enhancement, a promising marine carbon dioxide removal method. Plain Language Summary: The ocean is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth's surface and, as such, it controls the concentration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere over long time periods. When CO2 was rising at the end of the last ice age, marine sediment evidence indicates a regional carbon release into the ocean, due to a distinct carbon isotope fingerprint left behind. Using a carbon cycle model and atmospheric data, we simulated different geologic carbon addition scenarios since the last ice age. We find that substantial carbon addition to the ocean could have occurred (up to 1.3 billion tons per year) without causing significant changes to the carbon cycle, but only if the carbon is neutralized by alkalinity in an approximate 1:1 ratio. This neutralized release is similar to an approach of carbon removal called ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), which aims to reduce atmospheric CO2 as a potential solution for climate change. These findings suggest that neutralized carbon addition—in the form of "neutralized" bicarbonate ion HCO3− $\left({\text{HCO}}_{3}^{-}\right)$ instead of "acidic" CO2—could explain the low levels of radiocarbon during the last deglaciation and shows that large‐scale OAE is feasible without causing major changes to the marine carbon cycle. Key Points: Observed deglacial changes in atmospheric CO2 and 14C/C allow for up to 2,396 Pg of neutralized geologic carbon (i.e., bicarbonate) releaseThe global carbon cycle is essentially "blind" to neutralized carbon release, only constrained by 14C budgetThis gigaton‐scale neutralized carbon release may be a natural analog to the marine CO2 removal method of ocean alkalinity enhancement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-mesoscale and mesoscale (i.e., 1–10 km and 10–200 km, respectively) ocean processes are highly relevant for the understanding of global circulation, mixing of water masses and energy exchange between ocean layers. However, the processes happening at these scales are hard to be characterized using direct measurements of temperature and salinity. Direct measurements are obtained from vertical probes and/or autonomous vehicles, which, despite their high vertical resolution, are sparsely located in space and therefore unable to capture spatial details at these scales. Seismic oceanography (SO) data have been successfully used to imaging and characterize the ocean at these spatial scales. These data represent indirect measurements of the ocean temperature and salinity along kilometric transects with high horizontal resolution (i.e., a near-synaptic view of the system under investigation), but lower vertical resolution when compared with direct observations. Despite its complex oceanographic setting, the Madeira Abyssal Plain is still largely uncharacterized due to the lack of direct observations. We show for the first time a comprehensive processing, modelling and interpretation of three 2-D seismic oceanography sections from this region. The data show coherent seismic reflection in space, depth and time and shed light into this oceanographic setting with an unprecedent horizontal resolution. The SO modelling and interpretation are combined with existing direct measurements and a quantitative method to correlate thermohaline staircases interpreted from conductivity-temperature-depth casts and seismic reflections is proposed. The results show the relatively stable presence of thermohaline staircases in simultaneously time and space between 1200 and 2000 m of water depth and their spatial variability and contribute to the generalization of SO in physical oceanography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) plays an important role in various aspects of oceanography. MLD has a characteristic parameter value that is uniform with depth. MLD has an important role for local, regional, and global phenomena. Indonesia, which is surrounded by the East Indian Ocean, will be directly influenced by the dynamics of MLD. This study aimed to analyze seasonal variability and MLD between years. Mixed layer depth data from the ARMOR3D Dataset Copernicus-Marine Environment Monitoring Service was used for MLD analysis with a threshold of 0.2°C for temperature. Wavelet analysis showed that MLD variability in the eastern Indian Ocean spans from intra-seasonal to interannual scales. Time series analysis showed a complex relationship between MLD and SST in the annual and interannual periods which indicates a different process. The MLD monthly climatology at point 90E, 0 showed the depth of mixed layers is deeper during the east monsoon (JJA-SON) ranging from 50-65 m compared to the west monsoon (DJF-MAM) which has a range of 20-40 m. Spatially the MLD in the south of the equator is deeper than in the north. Interannually, MLD is heavily influenced by the Indian Ocean Dipole. MLD depth is deeper in nIOD with a maximum depth in the range of 100 m compared to pIOD. MLD with maximum depth in the strong nIOD phase is around the equator and the pIOD phase is south of the equator. The study also showed that inter-annual variability in regions around the mainland showed a stronger response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time reconstruction of ocean surface currents is a challenge due to the complex, non-linear dynamics of the ocean, the small number of in situ measurements, and the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of satellite altimetry observations. To address this challenge, we introduce HIRES-CURRENTS-Net, an operational real-time convolutional neural network (CNN) model for daily ocean current reconstruction. This study focuses on the Mediterranean Sea, a region where operational models have great difficulty predicting surface currents. Notably, our model showcases higher accuracy compared to commonly used alternative methods. HIRES-CURRENTS-Net integrates high-resolution measurements from the infrared or visible spectrum—high resolution Sea Surface Temperature (SST) or chlorophyll (CHL) images—in addition to the low-resolution Sea Surface Height (SSH) maps derived from satellite altimeters. In the first stage, we apply a transfer learning method which uses a high-resolution numerical model to pre-train our CNN model on simulated SSH and SST data with synthetic clouds. The observation of System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) offers us a sufficient training dataset with reference surface currents at very high resolution, and a model trained on this data can then be applied to real data. In the second stage, to enhance the real-time operational performance of our model over previous methods, we fine-tune the CNN model on real satellite data using a novel pseudo-labeling strategy. We validate HIRES-CURRENTS-Net on real data from drifters and demonstrate that our data-driven approach proves effective for real-time sea surface current reconstruction with potential operational applications such as ship routing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Philippine Sea, located at the edge of the northwestern Pacific Ocean, possesses complex seabed topography. Developing a high-precision bathymetric model for this region is of paramount importance, as it provides fundamental geoinformation essential for Earth observation and marine scientific research, including plate motion, ocean circulation, and hydrological characteristics. The gravity–geologic method (GGM), based on marine gravity anomalies, serves as an effective bathymetric prediction technique. To further strengthen the prediction accuracy of conventional GGM, we introduce the improved GGM (IGGM). The IGGM considers the effects of regional seafloor topography by employing weighted averaging to more accurately estimate the short-wavelength gravity component, along with refining the subsequent modeling of long-wavelength gravity component. In this paper, we focus on seafloor topography modeling in the Philippine Sea based on the IGGM, combining shipborne bathymetric data with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) V32.1 gravity anomaly. To reduce computational complexity, the optimal parameter values required for IGGM are first calculated before the overall regional calculation, and then, based on the terrain characteristics and distribution of sounding data, we selected four representative local sea areas as the research objects to construct the corresponding bathymetric models using GGM and IGGM. The analysis indicates that the precision of the IGGM models in four regions is improved to varying degrees, and the optimal calculation radius is 2 ′. Based on the above finding, a high-precision 1′×1′ bathymetric model of the Philippine Sea (5–35° N, 120–150° E), known as the BAT_PS model, is constructed using IGGM. Results demonstrate that the BAT_PS model exhibits a higher overall precision compared to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), topo_25.1, and DTU18 models at single-beam shipborne bathymetric points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full tensor of gravity gradients contains extremely large amounts of information, which is one of the most important sources for research on recovery seafloor topography and underwater matching navigation. The calculation and accuracy of the full tensor of gravity gradients are worth studying. The Ka-band interferometric radar altimeter (KaRIn) of surface water and ocean topography (SWOT) mission enables high spatial resolution of sea surface height (SSH), which would be beneficial for the calculation of gravity gradients. However, there are no clear accuracy results for the gravity gradients (the gravity gradient tensor represents the second-order derivative of the gravity potential) recovered based on SWOT data. This study evaluated the possible precision of gravity gradients using the discretization method based on simulated SWOT wide-swath data and investigated the impact of instrument errors. The data are simulated based on the sea level anomaly data provided by the European Space Agency. The instrument errors are simulated based on the power spectrum data provided in the SWOT error budget document. Firstly, the full tensor of gravity gradients (SWOT_GGT) is calculated based on deflections of the vertical and gravity anomaly. The distinctions of instrument errors on the ascending and descending orbits are also taken into account in the calculation. The precision of the Tzz component is evaluated by the vertical gravity gradient model provided by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. All components of SWOT_GGT are validated by the gravity gradients model, which is calculated by the open-source software GrafLab based on spherical harmonic. The Tzz component has the poorest precision among all the components. The reason for the worst accuracy of the Tzz component may be that it is derived by Txx and Tyy, Tzz would have a larger error than Txx and Tyy. The precision of all components is better than 6 E. Among the various errors, the effect of phase error and KaRIn error (random error caused by interferometric radar) on the results is greater than 2 E. The effect of the other four errors on the results is about 0.5 E. Utilizing multi-cycle data for the full tensor of gravity gradients recovery can suppress the effect of errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantify an elevated occurrence of abrupt changes in ocean environmental conditions under human‐induced climate forcing using Earth system model output through a novel analysis method that compares the temporal evolution of the forcings applied with the development of local ocean state changes for temperature, oxygen concentration, and carbonate ion concentration. Through a multi‐centennial Earth system model experiment, we show that such an increase is not fully reversible after excess greenhouse gas emissions go back to zero. The increase in occurrence of regional abrupt changes in marine environmental conditions has not yet been accounted for adequately in climate impact analyses that usually associate ecosystem shifts large‐scale variability or extreme events. Estimates for remaining greenhouse gas emission targets need thus to be more conservative. Plain Language Summary: The ocean warms up, gets more acidic, and loses oxygen under progressing anthropogenic climate change putting ecosystems under stress. Regionally, abrupt changes in temperature, acidity, and dissolved oxygen concentration can occur and may make it impossible for organisms to adjust to these new environmental conditions, thereby increasing the risk for deterioration of entire ecosystems. The study provides evidence for elevated occurrence of regional abrupt changes in marine environmental conditions that is not yet accounted for appropriately in climate impact analyses that usually associate ecosystem shifts with changes in large‐scale variability or extreme events. Therefore, the time window for effective climate mitigation to prevent unwanted marine ecosystem impacts may close sooner than previously expected. Key Points: There is an elevated occurrence of abrupt changes in key ocean state variables under human‐induced climate forcingThe occurrence of abrupt changes in the upper ocean peaks around the maximum of the rate of change in human‐induced forcingA multi‐centennial legacy is expected for abrupt shifts in environmental conditions, long after a stop of anthropogenic CO2 emissions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean heat exchanges at the marginal ice zone (MIZ) play an important role in melting sea ice. Mixed‐layer eddies transport heat and ice floes across the MIZ, facilitating the pack's access to warm waters. This study explores these frontal dynamics using disk‐shaped floes coupled to an upper‐ocean model simulating the sea ice edge. Numerical experiments reveal that small floes respond more strongly to fine‐scale ocean currents, which favors higher dispersion rates and weakens sea ice drag onto the underlying ocean. Floes with radii smaller than resolved turbulent filaments (∼2–4 km) result in a wider and more energetic MIZ, by a factor of 70% each, compared to larger floes. We hypothesize that this floe size dependency may affect sea ice break‐up by controlling oceanic energy propagation into the MIZ and modulate the sea ice pack's melt rate by regulating lateral heat transport toward the sea ice cover. Plain Language Summary: Sea ice forms as a thin layer of frozen ocean waters, which breaks into individual floes due to the action of waves, ocean currents, and atmospheric winds. At the edge of the pack, these floes are vulnerable to warm waters in the open ocean, which can favor the melt of sea ice. The transport of heat from the open ocean into ice‐covered regions is not well represented in existing climate models, notably due to their poor spatial resolution and their inability to represent the dynamics of individual floes. In this study, we use a regional numerical model to investigate how fine‐scale ocean currents (2–30 km) can help transport heat toward a sea ice pack composed of broken‐up floes. We find that this heat transport is most efficient when floes are small, because they cannot efficiently damp the mechanical energy from the surface currents and they are easily transported into the open ocean by these currents. These two processes combined may lead to sea ice melt feedbacks that are currently not captured by coarser climate models. Key Points: The sensitivity of sea ice dispersion and upper‐ocean energetics to floe size is considered at a mesoscale frontFloes smaller than turbulent filaments disperse more strongly and lead to a wider marginal ice zoneThese small floes allow for stronger eddy kinetic energy propagation and heat transport into the pack [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advisories and forecasts of ocean state, circulation, warnings on marine hazards, and information on living and non-living resources are essential for safe operations and increased productivity in the marine environment. These contribute to the growth of blue economy in India. For the past several years, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad has been providing services such as ocean state forecasts, potential fishing zone advisories, marine hazard warnings and operation-specific advisories/forecasts/information to the stakeholders. The economic benefits of these services are found to be substantial. This article outlines the major services provided by INCOIS which support the blue economy sectors in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARAL/AltiKa, the first microwave altimeter operating at Ka-band frequency, recently completed nine years of operations in orbit. During these years, it has catered to many applications related to operational oceanography, climate sciences, hydrology and cryosphere. More specifically, in oceanography, SARAL has contributed immensely to operational wave and circulation modelling, eddy detection/tracking, ocean current generation and many more. However, since Feb 2019, SARAL has moved from the drifting phase (DP) to the mispointing phase (MP) due to the malfunctioning of the star sensor of the spacecraft. In this study, we analyse the instrument's performance and its waveforms during its ongoing MP. We find out that during the MP, significant wave height (SWH) measurements are anomalously high between 18 and 24 m, and wind speed measurements are between 16 and 19 m/s. In sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), there is a steady rise in negative values during the MP. In the return waveform, ∼15% degradation in Brown-type waveforms in the open ocean region is noticed. These changes significantly impact the SARAL applications. Two important applications of wave forecast and eddy detection are discussed here as examples. Following this, we also recommend using provided quality flags so that the data can be further explored for various ocean applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the strategic importance of hydro-politics today based on the competition between big powers in the most significative strategic maritime zones, with the aim of understanding the special geographical position of Colombia, its challenges, and opportunities, as an intermediate point of connection between North and South America and with access to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. To take advantage of its geostrategic potential, it is suggested that the country reconnects its coastline and develops a bi-oceanic connection in Choco, as a priority hydro political imperative, to stablish a strategic maritime zone which plans and develops its geostrategic power in the current international system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific studies concentrated in Antarctica hold great value and importance for humanity. Research projects are conducted in various disciplines on the continent, where nearly 100 research stations from 30 countries are established. Despite the challenges posed by Antarctica's natural structure, unique environment, difficult working conditions, and limited logistics opportunities, scientific research conducted there is indispensable due to the valuable information it offers. In pursuit of accessing this information, Turkish Antarctic expeditions have been organized since 2017. In this study, a polar data center was established through a web-based geographic information system (WebGIS), a significant infrastructure for the continuity of scientific studies. The implemented projects and raw/processed data from previous expeditions in diverse subjects and disciplines, including geology, geophysics, geography, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, glaciology, atmospheric physics, chemistry, microbiology, and remote sensing, were incorporated into this information system. Studies in Antarctica have primarily focused on observing the effects of global warming, necessitating the monitoring of past and current data related to sea ice, sea level, and coastal changes. The data also encompasses seismic, volcanic, tectonic, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) monitoring. As suggested by the Antarctic Treaty, a user-friendly website was designed and made accessible for research projects, data, and publications. An entity relationship diagram was created for the fields to be included in the database. These fields were structured as tables using structured query language (SQL) queries in PgAdmin. A workspace and storage area were created in GeoServer, and a connection was established with PostGIS. Layers of spatial and nonspatial data from the PgAdmin application were added to the GeoServer workspace. The data transferred to GeoServer were presented in an OpenLayers web map with Web Map Service (WMS) and Web Feature Service (WFS) according to Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards. Additionally, a mini web map was designed using the desktop Quantum GIS (QGIS) application and GIS Cloud collaboration, displaying GNSS and meteorological (weather) observation stations on the continent. A dynamic web project was employed for coding in Eclipse software, where backend coding was done with JavaScript. SQL was used as a part of the backend to integrate data from the database per request. Frontend coding for the website's visual side was completed with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. As a result, a WebGIS platform was developed where researchers can register, add projects, and publications, and view data on a map. Users can download, analyze, and utilize the available data. The data center's existence underscores the importance of polar science and serves as an incentive for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centuries of exclusion have resulted in a tangible human diversity deficit, where the diversity of oceanographers does not represent the global diversity of people impacted by ocean processes. We present six challenges faced by oceanographers who have one or more marginalized identities: (1) historical practices of conquest, discrimination, and exclusion underpin oceanography's modern diversity deficit; (2) undervalued and uncompensated labor by oceanographers from underrepresented groups can perpetuate a lack of representation by leading to burnout and attrition; (3) marginalized individuals are often forced to hide parts of their identities (languages, appearances, partners, behaviors) that deviate from outdated expectations of professionalism; (4) oceanography requires trainees to navigate extensive logistical and financial hurdles; (5) individuals from non-Western cultural and religious traditions often conceal their spiritual obligations in attempts to assimilate or avoid forgoing valuable research experiences; and (6) limited planning and transparency in oceanographic fieldwork can threaten the physical and mental safety of marginalized individuals. We highlight how holding multiple, intersecting identities can compound negative impacts on the well-being of marginalized oceanographers. Finally, we recommend solutions that individuals, mentors, professional societies, funding agencies, and institutions should undertake to move toward a more diverse oceanographic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral larval dispersal establishes connectivity between reefs, but larval fluxes vary over timescales from daily to multidecadal due to oceanographic variability. Using a 2‐km‐resolution ocean model, we simulate daily spawning events from 1993 to 2019 and assess the potential connectivity between all reefs in the tropical southwest Indian Ocean. Although there is a significant seasonal cycle in potential connectivity, day‐to‐day variability generally dominates. Larval dispersal pathways on any particular day provide limited information about the dispersal pathways a few days later. The magnitude of this high‐frequency variability depends on the local geography and oceanography, with small and isolated reefs generally subject to the most variability. Stochastic oceanographic variability introduces considerable uncertainty to dispersal predictions, imposing fundamental limitations on what simulations can tell us about inter‐reef connectivity. Protracted spawning over only a few days can significantly reduce variability associated with the likelihood of a larva settling. The duration of spawning is therefore a more important parameter in modeling coral connectivity than the exact timing of spawning onset. Finally, we find that a small proportion of spawning events account for the majority of settling larvae, particularly at remote islands, and demonstrate that a time‐mean picture of dispersal may be inappropriate for predicting demographic and genetic connectivity. Given the diversity of coral reef environments in the southwest Indian Ocean, we expect that these results will apply to inter‐reef coral connectivity across the tropics more broadly, as well as other weakly swimming reef taxa with the potential for long‐distance dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship weather routing, which involves suggesting low-emission routes, holds potential for contributing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport. However, its quantitative impact has been explored only to a limited extent, also for a lack of readily deployable open-source and open-language computational models. As a response, the VISIR model has been refactored in Python, incorporating new features. The velocity composition with currents has been refined, now encompassing leeway as well. For motor vessels, the angle of attack of waves has been considered, while sailboats now account for the combined effects of wind and sea currents. A least-CO2 algorithm in presence of dynamic graph edge weights has been implemented and validated, proving a quasi-linear computational performance which outperforms VISIR-1. The software suite’s modularity has been significantly improved, alongside a thorough validation against arious benchmarks. The resulting VISIR-2 model has been employed in numerical experiments within the Mediterranean Sea for the entire 2022, utilising meteo-oceanographic analysis fields. For a 125-meter-long ferry, the distribution of carbon dioxide savings follows a bi-exponential distribution. Two-digit CO2 savings were possible for more than ten days in a year. Largest savings were achieved in avoiding upwind sailing and using the lowest engine load. In the case of an 11-meter sailboat, time savings increase with the extent of path elongation, particularly during upwind sailing. The sailboat’s routes were approximately 3 % shorter thanks to optimisation, and there was potential for additional savings when favourable currents were in play. The impact of leeway was minor, but disregarding it would result in a systematic underestimation of route durations. VISIR-2 is a collaborative model with the capacity to harness knowledge from oceanography, ocean engineering, and computer science, to contribute to the decarbonisation efforts in the shipping industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greenland Sea is a key region for open ocean convection and ventilation, which exhibit a large variability with periods of strong convection and shutdowns. After a long period of weak winter convection (from the 1970s to the early 1990s), a recovery has been reported, beginning in the 1990s and intensifying in the early 2000s until 2013. Using ISAS, an optimal interpolation product based on Argo observations, we document a recent significant weakening of deep convection between 2014 and 2020, accompanied by a continuous warming of the mixed layer but also a freshening after 2014. These hydrographic changes likely increase the ocean stratification and precondition the shutdown of winter convection. We suggest that these property changes result from a shift of the large scale atmospheric circulation, affecting the source of Atlantic Water to the Nordic seas, causing a freshening of about −0.1 g kg−1 that spreads into the Greenland Sea. Plain Language Summary: The Greenland Sea is a key region for the climate system. There, during winter, the ocean loses heat to the atmosphere in a process called "deep convection," that results in the formation of dense water masses that ventilate and fill the deeper layers of the ocean. The Greenland Sea exhibits a high variability in the intensity of winter deep convection, but the scientific community is still debating on which processes trigger or stop convection. After a recovery period of convection, mainly in the beginning of the 21st century, convection has stopped again after 2014 and at least until 2020. Here, we suggest that this new shutdown is mainly caused by changes in the ocean upper layer temperature and salinity that increase the upper ocean buoyancy, making it more difficult to trigger deep convection during winter. We further propose that the main mechanism driving the ocean properties changes is a shift of the large scale atmospheric circulation, which affects the amount and properties of Atlantic Water transported to the Greenland Sea. Key Points: After a period of intense deep convection since 2002, convection in the Greenland Sea has weakened from 2014 to 2020The upper salinity and temperature in the months prior of convection are driving the deep convection variabilityThe upper salinity changes are resulting from changes in large scale pattern of advection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the transport of large ocean currents, like the Gulf Stream, has been of interest since the early days of oceanography. There has been less attention on the widths of the currents, although there exist several theoretical predictions. We present a census of time‐averaged jet profiles, using in situ and satellite data. The jets are typically asymmetrical, being narrower on the side with weaker stratification. The half‐widths Lj are correlated with the local deformation radius Ld associated with the first surface mode on either side. The dependence of Lj on Ld is predicted by simple shallow water geostrophic adjustment models, with or without outcropping layers. This implies that potential vorticity is well‐mixed adjacent to the jets, due most likely to mesoscale eddies. The findings suggest that surface jet widths are determined locally, by eddy‐mean flow interactions. Plain Language Summary: Narrow, persistent currents a few tens of kilometers wide are found in several regions of the ocean, like fast‐flowing rivers. The Gulf Stream and Kuroshio are familiar examples. We use different measurements to show that these currents have a generic shape, being asymmetric relative to their point of maximum velocity, that is, they are wider on one side and narrower on the other. The profile has a distinctive shape and results from strong eddy stirring on either side of the jet. The jet widths depend on the local density profile and on the Earth's rotation. Key Points: We present a census of the widths of several surface jets across the global ocean, using in situ and satellite dataMost jets are asymmetrical, with the half‐widths correlated with the first surface radius on each side of the jetThe asymmetry and deformation scale dependence are predicted by simple layered analytical models and reflect active lateral mixing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This paper provides a novel approach to integrating available environmental information into fishery data using gradient-dependent optimal interpolation. Comparative verifications of observations show that the constructed subsurface temperature and salinity profiles were very consistent with the in situ observations. The data assimilation method, named gradient-dependent optimal interpolation, gave refined matching results applied to represent the relationship between squid and environmental information. Our new method represents a useful tool in the deep research of fishery oceanography. A key issue in fishery forecasting is the collection of high-precision subsurface environmental data. A data assimilation method, named gradient-dependent optimal interpolation, was used to construct the near-real-time vertical temperature and salinity structure of a squid fishery ground based on Argo observations. The results were verified by truth-finding comparisons and applied to analyze the relationship between neon flying squid and the subsurface environment in the Kuroshio–Oyashio Confluence Region. The temperature and salinity differences between the constructed results and survey data were less than ±0.5 °C and ±0.02, respectively. Most of the relative analysis errors were less than the observational errors. Statistical analysis revealed that the most suitable temperature for squid was 18–24 °C at the near-surface (<5 m), although the squid can endure a temperature range from 11 to 12 °C at a depth of 300 m. There was an obvious thermocline in the fishery ground, with a thermocline depth of 65 m and a mean strength of approximately 0.10 °C/m. The regressive relationship between vertical temperature (thermocline parameters) and squid catch per unit effort (CPUE) followed the exponential (Gaussian) function. The most suitable salinity was 33.0–34.2 at depths shallower than 300 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historians of science increasingly turn to ocean spaces, especially fromthe mid-twentieth century, when oceanography adopted new strategic and economic significance during and after World War II. Yet, the overdetermination of oceanography's historiography by histories of conflict obscures the role that empire--its continuities and its ends--played in the transformation of ocean science and politics at the same time. This essay builds on recent work seeking to recover the role of empire's endurance and its long shadows in the construction of mid-twentieth-century ocean science, politics, and law. Focusing on deepsea sediments, I parse the work of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876) naturalist-cum-Challenger Office director John Murray alongside that of American economic geologist John Mero, who in the mid-twentieth century articulated all seabeds as storehouses of vast mineral wealth. Murray's sedimentological taxonomies and representations as well as his collected data on global oozes, nodules included, formed much of the basis for Mero's work. And, both Murray and Mero leveraged sediments to argue for proprietary positions premised on priority-in-time for resource discovery claims, and exclusive access based upon scientific knowledge and technical ability, bothmasked by tropes of equal access and opportunity. These data and practices helped Northern scientists build and maintain control over knowledge of the seabed and the value of its resources, as postcolonial and Cold War impetuses rearranged political and economic order at sea. Historicizing abyssal oozes illuminates the character of contemporary conflicts over the future of the international seabed, asking, who determines how the seabed will be valued? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humpback whales Megaptera novaengliae undertake annual migrations along eastern Australia, where they can be susceptible to entanglement in set fishing gear. This can potentially result in both sublethal and fatal outcomes for the whales, and financial losses for the fishing industry, including loss of gear and catch. Interannual fluctuations in entanglement records suggest that dynamic oceanographic features may be associated with the whales' migration path, and therefore, risk of entanglement. Using records of demersal fish traps off the coast of New South Wales (NSW), we identify two areas of high fishing pressure and entanglement risk overlap. Within each area, we combine entanglement observations with metrics associated with the East Australian Current (EAC) and climate (i.e., southern oscillation index). We show that the strength and position of the EAC was associated with the likelihood of entanglement in set fishing gear. In northern NSW (30.3° S), entanglement risk was highest between July and October when the EAC is relatively close to the coast. In contrast, there was no evidence suggesting that oceanography further south in the separation zone of the EAC (33.8° S) was associated with risk of entanglement. In the years following a strongly negative SOI (i.e., El Niño events), entanglement risk was also reduced. While we provide clear linkages with regional oceanographic dynamics and entanglement risk off NSW, if a dynamic ocean management approach to reducing entanglements is to be realized, further research into the fine‐scale movements of humpback whales is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the advantages of cooperative learning in the field of oceanography. It explains that cooperative learning, which involves structured group work, can lead to better learning outcomes and positive experiences for students. The article highlights the importance of positive interdependence and individual accountability in successful group work. It also discusses various strategies and cooperative learning structures that can be used to promote these principles, including the well-known Jigsaw technique. The article specifically focuses on the application of the Jigsaw technique in oceanography education, providing examples and practical considerations for implementation. Overall, the author emphasizes the benefits of cooperative learning in enhancing student engagement and comprehension. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: The present research enriches our comprehension of the mitogenomic genetic features, genetic diversity, evolutionary past, and conservation prerequisites of Psettodes flatfishes on a global scale. This study focuses on the matrilineal evolutionary path of these primitive groups, with a specific emphasis on the complete mitogenome of the Psettodes belcheri and casting light on its genetic composition, structural traits, and evolutionary chronicle. Exploring genetic variations and phylogenetic relationships uncovers the intricate evolutionary links between Psettodes species and their broader context within the Pleuronectiformes species. The complex interplay of hydrographic conditions, ocean currents, and ecological factors emerges as pivotal in shaping the evolutionary landscape of these flatfishes. Given the potential consequences for conservation, this study highlights the necessity for a holistic comprehension of marine environments and the ramifications of climate change and human interventions on flatfish species. The mitogenomic evolution of the Psettodes flatfishes is still poorly known from their range distribution in eastern Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific Oceans. The study delves into the matrilineal evolutionary pathway of these primitive flatfishes, with a specific focus on the complete mitogenome of the Psettodes belcheri species, as determined through next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome in question spans a length of 16,747 base pairs and comprises a total of 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region. Notably, the mitogenome of P. belcheri exhibits a bias towards AT base pairs, with a composition of 54.15%, mirroring a similar bias observed in its close relative, Psettodes erumei, which showcases percentages of 53.07% and 53.61%. Most of the protein-coding genes commence with an ATG initiation codon, except for Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), which initiates with a GTG codon. Additionally, four protein-coding genes commence with a TAA termination codon, while seven others exhibit incomplete termination codons. Furthermore, two protein-coding genes, namely NAD1 and NAD6, terminate with AGG and TAG stop codons, respectively. In the mitogenome of P. belcheri, the majority of transfer RNAs demonstrate the classical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for tRNA-serine, which lacks a DHU stem. Comparative analysis of conserved blocks within the control regions of two Psettodidae species unveiled that the CSB-II block extended to a length of 51 base pairs, surpassing the other blocks and encompassing highly variable sites. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial genomes (13 concatenated PCGs) categorized various Pleuronectiformes species, highlighting the basal position of the Psettodidae family and showed monophyletic clustering of Psettodes species. The approximate divergence time (35−10 MYA) between P. belcheri and P. erumei was estimated, providing insights into their separation and colonization during the early Miocene. The TimeTree analysis also estimated the divergence of two suborders, Psettodoidei and Pleuronectoidei, during the late Paleocene to early Eocene (56.87 MYA). The distribution patterns of Psettodes flatfishes were influenced by ocean currents and environmental conditions, contributing to their ecological speciation. In the face of climate change and anthropogenic activities, the conservation implications of Psettodes flatfishes are emphasized, underscoring the need for regulated harvesting and adaptive management strategies to ensure their survival in changing marine ecosystems. Overall, this study contributes to understanding the evolutionary history, genetic diversity, and conservation needs of Psettodes flatfishes globally. However, the multifaceted exploration of mitogenome and larger-scale genomic data of Psettodes flatfish will provide invaluable insights into their genetic characterization, evolutionary history, environmental adaptation, and conservation in the eastern Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific Oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of seismoacoustic studies carried out in the years 2020–2023 on the shelf of southeastern Crimea by employees of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, using an original complex of technical means, including seismoacoustic and acoustic profilers are discussed. The data obtained made it possible to clarify the position of the paleo valleys and to provide a seismostratigraphic reference of the reflecting horizons with the identification of the main seismic complexes in the Pleistocene–Holocene part of the section. Seismic facies analysis of the wave field made it possible to clarify the paleogeographic conditions for the formation of paleo valleys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Red Sea has a special geographical feature because it is situated in the tropical and subtropical zones. The uniqueness of the Red Sea makes a variability of oceanography data (Chlorophyll-a (Chla), current, Salinity, etc.) and meteorological data (Precipitation, Wind Speed, etc.). However, investigations of differences interaction of oceanography and meteorology are less studied in of the Red Sea. Satellites and modeling make it possible to observe oceanographic and meteorological data over a long period of time. This study first demonstrates that there are three major areas along the Red Sea that represent the different Chl-a concentrations during the rainy season. The month of July has the highest Chl-a concentration in the south (1.3 mg/m³) and the lowest Chl-a concentration in the north (0.18 mg/m³). The southern part of the Red Sea has a different generation mechanism from the northern part of the Red Sea in terms of increasing and decreasing Chl-a concentrations. The existence of surface runoff in this area may result in the supply of anthropogenic organic compounds and fresh water to coastal waters. This may increase the supply of nutrients at the peak of the rainy season, and finally increase the concentration of Chl-a in the southern part. In the middle part, the variability of Chl-a is mainly affected by wind speed. Meanwhile, the high salinity in the northern part may limit the growth of phytoplankton and keep the Chl-a concentration low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical mixing parameterizations in ocean models are formulated on the basis of the physical principles that govern turbulent mixing. However, many parameterizations include ad hoc components that are not well constrained by theory or data. One such component is the eddy diffusivity model, where vertical turbulent fluxes of a quantity are parameterized from a variable eddy diffusion coefficient and the mean vertical gradient of the quantity. In this work, we improve a parameterization of vertical mixing in the ocean surface boundary layer by enhancing its eddy diffusivity model using data‐driven methods, specifically neural networks. The neural networks are designed to take extrinsic and intrinsic forcing parameters as input to predict the eddy diffusivity profile and are trained using output data from a second moment closure turbulent mixing scheme. The modified vertical mixing scheme predicts the eddy diffusivity profile through online inference of neural networks and maintains the conservation principles of the standard ocean model equations, which is particularly important for its targeted use in climate simulations. We describe the development and stable implementation of neural networks in an ocean general circulation model and demonstrate that the enhanced scheme outperforms its predecessor by reducing biases in the mixed‐layer depth and upper ocean stratification. Our results demonstrate the potential for data‐driven physics‐aware parameterizations to improve global climate models. Plain Language Summary: The upper region of the ocean is highly energetic and is responsible for transferring mass, energy and biogeochemical tracers between the atmosphere and the deeper regions of the ocean. This transport takes place because of turbulent swirling motions, which are found to be of varying sizes. Climate models cannot represent all of these motions because smaller‐scale swirls are complex and require additional computational resources. As we cannot neglect those small swirls, we try to approximate their effects on larger‐scale motions using mathematical models. These models have a few ad hoc or empirical assumptions that lead to uncertainty when these climate models are used to project the future climate. To reduce this uncertainty, we augment an existing model of turbulent swirling process with machine learning, which replaces some ad hoc approximations with data‐driven neural networks. Neural networks can learn those missing processes more accurately than a traditional physics‐based model. The neural networks are shown to improve physics in climate simulations. Although we only touch on one component in an ocean climate model, this approach can be replicated to improve any other component that was using ad hoc assumptions and replace them with data‐driven models using techniques from machine learning. Key Points: We improve a parameterization of vertical mixing in the ocean surface boundary layer using neural networksNeural networks are trained to predict the diffusivity of second moment closure and maintain energetic constraints of the original parameterizationThe improved scheme reduces biases of mixed layer depth and thermocline in an atmospherically forced ocean model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For better projections of sea level rise, two things are needed: an improved understanding of the contributing processes and their accurate representation in climate models. A major process is basal melting of ice shelves and glacier tongues by the ocean, which reduces ice sheet stability and increases ice discharge into the ocean. We study marine melting of Greenland's largest floating ice tongue, the 79° North Glacier, using a high‐resolution, 2D‐vertical ocean model. While our fjord model is idealized, the results agree with observations of melt rate and overturning strength. Our setup is the first application of adaptive vertical coordinates to an ice cavity. Their stratification‐zooming allows a vertical resolution finer than 1 m in the entrainment layer of the meltwater plume, which is important for the plume development. We find that the plume development is dominated by entrainment only initially. In the stratified upper part of the cavity, the subglacial plume shows continuous detrainment. It reaches neutral buoyancy near 100 m depth, detaches from the ice, and transports meltwater out of the fjord. Melting almost stops there. In a sensitivity study, we show that the detachment depth depends primarily on stratification. Our results contribute to the understanding of ice–ocean interactions in glacier cavities. Furthermore, we suggest that our modeling approach with stratification‐zooming coordinates will improve the representation of these interactions in global ocean models. Finally, our idealized model topography and forcing are close to a real fjord and completely defined analytically, making the setup an interesting reference case for future model developments. Plain Language Summary: The global increase of sea levels is a consequence of human‐induced climate change. It presents a threat to coastal regions and demands action to protect human life and infrastructure near the coast. Planning protective measures requires projections of sea level rise, computed with climate models. We present an approach to improve the simulation of an important contributor to sea level rise: melting of floating ice shelves by ocean circulation. Our modeling approach uses a vertical model grid that evolves over time. The temporal evolution depends on the density structure of the ocean. Large density differences appear just below an ice shelf, where fresh meltwater mixes with salty seawater. The adaptive grid of our model resolves this mixing process in great detail. This is important for an accurate computation of the melt rate and enables us to study in depth the ice shelf–ocean interactions. We study them at the glacier tongue of the 79° North Glacier, which is Greenland's largest ice shelf. The physical understanding gained from our simulations is also applicable to other floating glacier tongues and ice shelves. We suggest that using the presented model technique in global ocean models can improve projections of melting and sea level rise. Key Points: Melting of the 79° North Glacier ice tongue by turbulent ocean currents is studied with an idealized 2D‐vertical fjord modelThe subglacial plume behaves like an entraining plume close to the grounding line and like a detraining gravity current further downstreamA vertical resolution finer than 1 m is achieved in the subglacial plume by using adaptive vertical coordinates that zoom to stratification [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over a hundred experiments were conducted between 1998 and 2022 in the Mediterranean Sea using surface Lagrangian drifters at coastal and offshore levels. Raw data were initially unified and pre-processed manually by eliminating spikes and wrong positions or date/time information. The integrity of the received data packages was checked, and incomplete ones were discarded. Deployment information was retrieved for each drifter and integrated into the PostgreSQL database, realized and maintained by the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS) in Trieste (Italy). This database also collects a variety of metadata about the drifter model, project, owner, and operator. Subsequently, data were processed using standard procedures of editing and quality control developed for the OGS drifter dataset to remove spikes generated by malfunctioning of the sensors and to obtain files with common characteristics. Drifter data and plots of each track were also visually checked to remove any point not identified by the automatic procedure and which were clearly erroneous. Drifter trajectories were split into two or more segments that are considered different deployments in the case of specific drifter behaviour. Data were interpolated at defined time intervals providing a dataset of 158 trajectories, available from the public open-access repository of SEA scieNtific Open data Edition (SEANOE) at 10.17882/90537 (Ribotti et al., 2022), in two versions (one compliant with the Copernicus format and the other one usable with Panoply netCDF viewer), and of SeaDataNet at https://cdi.seadatanet.org/search/welcome.php?query=2610&query%5fcode={9F00DF80-1881-42DD-9DF1-B9BD0282F2B0} (last access: 5 October 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing globally, causing economic, human health, and ecosystem harm. In spite of the frequent occurrence of HABs, the mechanisms responsible for their exceptionally high biomass remain imperfectly understood. A 50-y- old hypothesis posits that some dense blooms derive from dinoflagellate motility: organisms swim upward during the day to photosynthesize and downward at night to access deep nutrients. This allows dinoflagellates to outgrow their nonmotile competitors. We tested this hypothesis with in situ data from an autonomous, ocean-wave- powered vertical profiling system. We showed that the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra’s vertical migration led to depletion of deep nitrate during a 2020 red tide HAB event. Downward migration began at dusk, with the maximum migration depth determined by local nitrate concentrations. Losses of nitrate at depth were balanced by proportional increases in phytoplankton chlorophyll concentrations and suspended particle load, conclusively linking vertical migration to the access and assimilation of deep nitrate in the ocean environment. Vertical migration during the red tide created anomalous biogeochemical conditions compared to 70 y of climatological data, demonstrating the capacity of these events to temporarily reshape the coastal ocean’s ecosystem and biogeochemistry. Advances in the understanding of the physiological, behavioral, and metabolic dynamics of HAB-forming organisms from cutting-edge observational techniques will improve our ability to forecast HABs and mitigate their consequences in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comparative analysis of the coastal performances of Sentinel-6 and Jason-3 altimeters during their tandem phase, considering their different processing modes. We examine the measurements available in the standard geophysical data records (GDR) and also perform dedicated reprocessing using coastal retracking algorithms applied to the original waveforms. The performances are evaluated, taking into account the quality of retrievals (outlier analysis), their precision (along-track noise analysis), potential systematic biases, and accuracy (comparison against tide gauges). The official SAR altimetry product of Sentinel-6 demonstrates improved coastal monitoring capabilities compared to Jason-3, except for the remaining issues related to significant wave height, which have already been identified. These findings highlight the significance of dedicated coastal retracking algorithms for enhancing the capabilities of both traditional, pulse-limited altimeters and more recent developments utilizing SAR altimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Half a century separates us from the dawning of satellite oceanography. Aircraft flights, photographs from early space missions, and data from meteorological satellites in the 1960s already provided glimpses of the future role of remote sensing in marine science. A first generation of dedicated ocean-viewing satellites followed in the 1970s. The "Oceans from Space" conference series, which convenes every ten years in Venice, Italy, started in 1980, when unprecedented data sets originated by a second generation of satellites, SEASAT, TIROS-N, and NIMBUS-7, were just beginning to be analyzed. When "Oceans from Space II" was held in 1990, no major new missions were operating. However, in the 1990s, a third generation of missions were underway, based on a longer satellite series and larger orbital platform. By the time "Oceans from Space III" was held in 2000, increasing data quality, accessibility, and usability were contributing to the growth of this young research field. "Oceans from Space IV", in 2010, came at a time when remote sensing was already in everyday use as part of the marine scientist's standard toolkit. "Oceans from Space V", delayed by the COVID pandemic until 2022, offered a scientific and technical program reflecting the astounding panorama of missions, instruments, and innovations available today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 30 years of observations from an international suite of satellite altimeter missions continue to provide key data enabling research discoveries and a broad spectrum of operational and user-driven applications. These missions were designed to advance technologies and to answer scientific questions about ocean circulation, ocean heat content, and the impact of climate change on these Earth systems. They are also a valuable resource for the operational needs of oceanographic and weather forecasting agencies that provide information to shipping and fishing vessels and offshore operations for route optimization and safety, as well as for other decision makers in coastal, water resources, and disaster management fields. This time series of precise measurements of ocean surface topography (OST)—the "hills and valleys" of the ocean surface—reveals changes in ocean dynamic topography, tracks sea level variations at global to regional scales, and provides key information about ocean trends reflecting climate change in our warming world. Advancing technologies in new satellite systems allows measurements at higher spatial resolution ever closer to coastlines, where the impacts of storms, waves, and sea level rise on coastal communities and infrastructure are manifest. We review some collaborative efforts of international space agencies, including NASA, CNES, NOAA, ESA, and EUMETSAT, which have contributed to a collection of use cases of satellite altimetry in operational and decision-support contexts. The extended time series of ocean surface topography measurements obtained from these satellite altimeter missions, along with advances in satellite technology that have allowed for higher resolution measurements nearer to coasts, has enabled a range of such applications. The resulting body of knowledge and data enables better assessments of storms, waves, and sea level rise impacts on coastal communities and infrastructure amongst other key contributions for societal benefit. Although not exhaustive, this review provides a broad overview with specific examples of the important role of satellite altimetry in ocean and coastal applications, thus justifying the significant resource contributions made by international space agencies in the development of these missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the launch of CFOSAT on 29 October 2018, more than three years of observational data of ocean wave spectra with a frequency range of 0.02–0.26 Hz and a horizontal resolution of 70–90 km have been obtained. This study compares wave spectra retrieved from 6°, 8°, and 10° incidence angle beams and their combination provided by CFOSAT with corresponding data from 98 buoys from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) in order to validate the remote sensing wave spectral accuracy from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022. The correlation coefficient of frequency spectra (Rs) between CFOSAT and buoys is used to represent the accuracy of the spectral form; the root mean square (RMS) of the significant wave height (SWH) is used to represent the accuracy of the total energy. The results indicate that CFOSAT can retrieve reliable wave frequency spectral forms with a high significant wave height (Rs > 0.8 when SWH > 3 m; RS < 0.4 when SWH < 1 m). The low-frequency noise in the swell part causes the main error, the RMS of the swell height is 0.4 m whereas the RMS of wind wave height is 0.24 m, and the mask filter used for spectral partitioned provided by CFOSAT can eliminate the low-frequency noise and improve the Rs of 10° beam wave spectra from 0.59 to 0.64. For the wind wave spectra, the correct spectra have been achieved and the mask filter cannot improve the accuracy. The wave spectra from the 10° beam without mask filtering provides the best estimation of total energy, the RMS of SWH is 0.23 m, after the mask filtering, the best estimation of spectral form can be achieved, the Rs is 0.64. The novelty of this study is that we found the strong correlation between SWH and Rs, where the scatter of SWH and Rs can be fitted as: Rs = 1 − exp(−0.89·SWH + 0.20); according to this approximate formula, we can estimate the reliability of wave spectra provided by CFOSAT according to the SWH in any region, which is important for wave spectral assimilation in the numerical model. The validation of wave direction indicates that the accuracy of wave spectra in the directional component is poor; further research is needed on the causes of directional errors. Generally, this study is not only an evaluation of the quality of the CFOSAT spectral data, but also an important reference for a series of research requiring the CFOSAT spectral data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, an enormous amount of georeferenced oceanographic data, co-located with catch information, have been collected through the use of commercial fishing vessels operating in the Adriatic Sea and belonging to the fleet monitored by the AdriFOOS (Adriatic Fishery and Oceanography Observing System) infrastructure. This document describes the dataset of depth (pressure) and temperature profiles collected by means of AdriFOOS in the period 2012–2020 (available at 10.17882/73008, Penna et al., 2020) and briefly illustrates the structure of this facility, the oceanographic dataset validation procedures, and some of the results achieved, and it also lists some possible operational applications. This information is of the utmost importance to provide data to feed oceanographic models and advance knowledge on climate change, as well as to improve the ecosystem approach to fishery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: High-precision and high-resolution satellite altimetry data from CryoSat-2 are widely utilized for marine gravity inversion. The vertical gravity gradient is a crucial parameter of the Earth's gravity field. To evaluate the performance of vertical gravity gradient determined from CryoSat-2 altimeter data, the pre-processed along-track sea surface heights (SSHs) are obtained through error correction. The study area focused on the Arabian Sea and its surrounding region, where the along-track geoid was derived by subtracting the mean dynamic topography of the ocean from the along-track SSH of CryoSat-2. The residual along-track geoidal gradients were obtained by adjusting the along-track geoid gradients calculated from CryoSat-2 altimeter data using the remove-restore method. This was done by subtracting the geoid gradients calculated by the gravity field model XGM2019e_2159. After obtaining the residual along-track geoidal gradients, the residual gridded deflections of the vertical (DOV) are calculated using the least-squares collocation (LSC) method. The residual gridded DOV are then used to compute the residual gridded gravity anomaly gradients in the study area using the finite-difference method. After restoring the gravity anomaly gradients computed by the XGM2019e_2159 model, a high-resolution gravity anomaly gradient model with a resolution of 1′ ×1′ is obtained for the Arabian Sea and its surrounding area. To evaluate the accuracy of the gravity anomaly gradient model derived from CryoSat-2, it was compared with the SIO V32.1 gravity anomaly gradient model released by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The comparison showed that the root mean square (RMS) of the differences between the two models is 7.69E, demonstrating the high accuracy and precision of the vertical gravity gradient determined from CryoSat-2 altimeter data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past intensity of methane release from deep-ocean methane hydrates continues to be challenging to reconstruct reliably. Here, we used fossil ostracode fauna paired with foraminiferal δ13C values in a marine sediment core from Vestnesa Ridge, western Svalbard margin, to reconstruct methane seepage activity during the late Quaternary and to examine faunal response to deglacial climatic changes. Benthic foraminiferal δ13C values indicate methane seepage activity was relatively strong during marine isotope stage 2, corresponding to a high percentage of the ostracode Rosaliella svalbardensis in the assemblage. In contrast, this species was absent under conditions of no or very strong seepage of methane. Faunal changes in other taxa were more related to global climate changes regardless of the seepage activity. This result indicates that Rosaliella svalbardensis is a potential new useful proxy for past methane release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface winds and waves are very important phenomena that exist in the air–sea boundary layer. With the advent of climate change, cascade effects are bringing more attention to these phenomena as warmer sea surface temperatures bring about stronger winds, thereby altering global wave conditions. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a powerful sensor for high-resolution surface wind and wave observations and has accumulated large quantities of data. Furthermore, deep learning methods have been increasingly utilized in geoscience, especially the inversion of ocean information from SAR imagery. Here, we propose a method to invert various parameters of ocean surface winds and waves using Sentinel-1 SAR IW mode data. To ensure this method is more robust and scalable, we augmented the input data with dual-polarized SAR imagery, an incident angle, and a more constrained homogeneity test. This method adopts a deeper structure in order to retrieve more wind and wave parameters, and the use of residual networks can accelerate training convergence and improve regression accuracy. Using 1600 training samples filtered by a novel homogeneity test and with significant wave heights between 0 and 10 m, results from error parameters including the root mean square error (RMSE), scatter index (SI), and correlation coefficient (COR) show the great performance of this proposed method. The RMSE is 0.45 m, 0.76 s, and 1.90 m/s for the significant wave height, mean wave period, and wind speed, respectively. Furthermore, the temporal variation and spatial distribution of the estimates are consistent with China–France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSAT) observations, buoy measurements, WaveWatch3 regional model data, and ERA5 reanalysis data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and attributing changes to water quality is essential to the study and management of coastal ecosystems and the ecological functions they sustain (e.g., primary productivity, predation, and submerged aquatic vegetation growth). However, describing patterns of water clarity—a key aspect of water quality—over meaningful scales in space and time is challenged by high spatial and temporal variability due to natural and anthropogenic processes. Regionally tuned satellite algorithms can provide a more complete understanding of coastal water clarity changes and drivers. In this study, we used open‐access satellite data and low‐cost in situ methods to improve estimates of water clarity in an optically complex coastal water body. Specifically, we created a remote sensing water clarity product by compiling Landsat‐8 and Sentinel‐2 reflectance data with long‐term Secchi depth measurements at 12 sites over 8 years in a shallow turbid coastal lagoon system in Virginia, USA. Our satellite‐based model explained ∼33% of the variation in in situ water clarity. Our approach increases the spatiotemporal coverage of in situ water clarity data and improves estimates from bio‐optical algorithms that overpredicted water clarity. This could lead to a better understanding of water clarity changes and drivers to better predict how water quality will change in the future. Plain Language Summary: Water quality affects coastal ocean ecosystems and their ecological functions, including primary productivity, predation, and aquatic vegetation growth. An important component of water quality, water clarity, has historically been measured by tools such as Secchi disks. They are black and white painted disks that are lowered into the water column to estimate the depth at which they are no longer visible from the surface. They are a reliable, repeatable, and low‐cost tool; thus, they have contributed to extensive long‐term records of overall water quality. However, they produce gaps in space and time. Here, we created a remote sensing product to fill these gaps using open‐access high resolution satellite data and low‐cost in situ methods. Our product allows for the retrieval of water clarity data across an entire water body and at times field measurements are not available. This could lead to a better understanding of water clarity changes and drivers to better predict how water quality will change in the future. Key Points: Coupled satellite estimates with in situ observations increased the spatiotemporal coverage of water clarity estimation in a coastal ocean lagoon systemDemonstrated an accessible approach for modifying bio‐optical algorithms in optically complex coastal watersModel improved water clarity estimates, reduced biases, and decreased errors associated with Landsat‐8/Sentinel‐2 differences [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]