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Special Issues
Monitoring of Ocean Surface Currents and Circulation
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Monitoring of Ocean Surface Currents and Circulation

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Oceanography".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 2197

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Charitha Pattiaratchi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Oceans Graduate School and The UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Interests: coastal oceanography; mixing and circulation; physical processes; coastal observations; numerical modeling; sediment transport; remote sensing; estuaries; nearshore processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ocean surface currents, defined here to be the upper few meters of the ocean, are a dynamic and challenging region to monitor due to the complexities of the constantly changing air–sea interface. The currents in the uppermost section of the ocean are driven mainly through the action of wind and surface gravity waves (Stokes drift). Their measurement is challenging as most traditional Eulerian approaches are limited in their applicability in this region. Currently, there are two main approaches for monitoring the surface currents: (1) Lagrangian drifters and (2) high-frequency shore-based Radar systems. New novel systems are in development, including remote sensing (satellite, aircraft, and drones) and autonomous surface vehicles. The surface currents are critical for the transport of buoyant material such as river plumes, eggs and larvae of marine organisms, plastics and litter, as well as oil. In this context, we invite researchers and practitioners to contribute original research papers and review articles that explore a diverse range of topics related to the monitoring of ocean surface currents and circulation in the upper few meters of the ocean. Potential areas for submission include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. In situ measurements and techniques: This theme will focus on in situ measurement techniques, including the use of drifters, moorings, and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) for capturing upper ocean surface currents and circulation patterns.
  2. Advanced remote sensing techniques: We welcome contributions that showcase innovative remote sensing technologies, such as shore-based high-frequency Radar systems and satellite and/or airborne (aircraft, drones) systems, including radar, altimetry, and/or digital imagery for the detection and analysis of upper ocean surface currents.
  3. Numerical modeling and data assimilation: We invite papers that describe advanced numerical models and data assimilation approaches for simulating and predicting upper ocean surface currents and circulation.
  4. Impacts of ocean surface currents: Contributions focusing on the ecological and environmental impacts of upper ocean surface currents and circulation are welcome, particularly with respect to buoyant material.

Prof. Dr. Charitha Pattiaratchi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ocean surface currents
  • currents
  • circulation
  • remote sensing
  • numerical modeling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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24 pages, 10936 KiB  
Article
Surface Current Observations in the Southeastern Tropical Indian Ocean Using Drifters
by Prescilla Siji and Charitha Pattiaratchi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040717 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 603
Abstract
The Southeastern Tropical Indian Ocean (SETIO) forms part of the global ocean conveyor belt and thermohaline circulation that has a significant influence in controlling the global climate. This region of the ocean has very few observations using surface drifters, and this study presents, [...] Read more.
The Southeastern Tropical Indian Ocean (SETIO) forms part of the global ocean conveyor belt and thermohaline circulation that has a significant influence in controlling the global climate. This region of the ocean has very few observations using surface drifters, and this study presents, for the first time, paths of satellite tracked drifters released in the Timor Sea (123.3° E, 13.8° S). The drifter data were used to identify the ocean dynamics, forcing mechanisms and connectivity in the SETIO region. The data set has high temporal (~5 min) and spatial (~120 m) resolution and were collected over an 8-month period between 17 September 2020 and 25 May 2021. At the end of 250 days, drifters covered a region separated by ~8000 km (83–137° E, 4–21° S) and transited through several forcing mechanisms including semidiurnal and diurnal tides, submesoscale and mesoscale eddies, channel and headland flows, and inertial currents generated by tropical storms. Initially, all the drifters moved as a single cluster, and at 120° E longitude they entered a region of high eddy kinetic energy defined here as the ‘SETIO Mixing Zone’ (SMZ), and their movement was highly variable. All the drifters remained within the SMZ for periods between 3 and 5 months. Exiting the SMZ, drifters followed the major ocean currents in the system (either South Java or South Equatorial Current). Two of the drifters moved north through Lombok and Sape Straits and travelled to the east as far as Aru Islands. The results of this study have many implications for connectivity and transport of buoyant materials (e.g., plastics), as numerical models do not have the ability to resolve many of the fine-scale physical processes that contribute to surface transport and mixing in the ocean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Ocean Surface Currents and Circulation)
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19 pages, 8500 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Investigation of the Spatial-Temporal Characteristics and Vertical Dynamics of Internal Solitary Waves in the South China Sea from SWOT Data
by Zhikuan Pan, Zhenhe Zhai, Qi Li, Qianqian Li, Lin Wu and Lifeng Bao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020304 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 921
Abstract
Internal waves are crucial for understanding oceanographic parameters such as spatiotemporal distribution and energy transfer. They significantly impact ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, and offshore operations. However, studying internal waves is challenging due to their dynamic nature and the need for effective observation methods. [...] Read more.
Internal waves are crucial for understanding oceanographic parameters such as spatiotemporal distribution and energy transfer. They significantly impact ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, and offshore operations. However, studying internal waves is challenging due to their dynamic nature and the need for effective observation methods. This study investigated nonlinear internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the South China Sea using SSHa data from the SWOT satellite mission (Cycles 2 to 20). The distribution patterns and seasonal variations in ISWs were analyzed, revealing that ISWs are more frequently observed in summer while being rarely detected in winter. By combining SSHa observations with a Mode-1 vertical structure model, the isopycnal displacement, velocity fields, and energy characteristics of ISWs were reconstructed. The results show a maximum isopycnal displacement of 160 m at 400 m depth and peak kinetic energy near the surface (~2000 J/m3) and potential energy at a depth of around 300 m (~9000 J/m3). These findings highlight the vertical variability of ISWs and demonstrate the capability of SWOT data in capturing their fine-scale evolution, providing new opportunities for oceanic research and enhancing our understanding of internal waves’ impact on marine environments and ocean circulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Monitoring of Ocean Surface Currents and Circulation)
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