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Oceans
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Oceans in a Changing Climate
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Oceans in a Changing Climate

A special issue of Oceans (ISSN 2673-1924).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2026 | Viewed by 9269

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mariana Bernardino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering (CENTEC), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: climate and climate change; atmosphere–ocean interaction; wind and wave modeling; off-shore wind and wave energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Diogo Mendes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CERIS—Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: coastal engineering; nature-based solutions; beach nourishment; morphodynamic modelling; field observations; infragravity waves
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the critical and evolving role of the ocean in regulating Earth’s climate. As climate change accelerates, the ocean is experiencing major physical and chemical shifts, such as warming, acidification, sea-level rise, and altered wave and energy patterns. These transformations intensify ocean–atmosphere interactions, influencing global weather systems and contributing to extreme events.

We welcome original research and reviews on topics including wave dynamics, ocean energy fluxes, and their impact on climate modeling and forecasting. Studies exploring the socioeconomic consequences of ocean changes—especially for coastal communities and marine-based economies—are encouraged, with attention to renewable energy, policy development, and resilience strategies.

Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ocean changes: warming, acidification, sea-level rise, wave climate variability, and ocean energy processes.
  • Ocean–atmosphere interactions: climate feedbacks, circulation shifts (e.g., ENSO and AMOC), storm intensification, and extremes modulation.
  • Socioeconomic impacts and policy: coastal infrastructure, marine renewables, adaptation strategies, governance, and international cooperation.
  • Technologies and methods: observational platforms, remote sensing, modeling tools, data assimilation, and interdisciplinary integration.

This Special Issue seeks contributions that enhance understanding of the ocean–climate nexus and support global adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Dr. Mariana Bernardino
Dr. Diogo Mendes
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Oceans is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 1600 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–climate interactions
  • marine renewable energy
  • ocean warming
  • coastal resilience and policy
  • wave dy-namics
  • sea-level rise

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2520 KB  
Article
Reorganization of the Arabian Sea Oxygen Minimum Zone in Response to Monsoon Fluctuations During Dansgaard–Oeschger Events 12–11
by Patricia Silva Rodrigues, Wilfried Bauer and Marlon Carlos França
Oceans 2026, 7(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans7010019 - 17 Feb 2026
Viewed by 614
Abstract
Understanding the impact of monsoonal oscillations during past climatic changes in the Arabian Sea is crucial for improving climate model predictions under ongoing global warming. This study investigates whether millennial-scale climate shifts in Greenland, specifically Dansgaard–Oeschger events 12–11, affected the Indian Ocean monsoon [...] Read more.
Understanding the impact of monsoonal oscillations during past climatic changes in the Arabian Sea is crucial for improving climate model predictions under ongoing global warming. This study investigates whether millennial-scale climate shifts in Greenland, specifically Dansgaard–Oeschger events 12–11, affected the Indian Ocean monsoon system and the associated productivity and oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) dynamics in the northwestern Arabian Sea. In the Arabian Sea, DO stadials correspond to reduced water-surface productivity, well-ventilated intermediate water masses, and a weakened or absent OMZ. Contrarily, DO interstadials are distinguished by enhanced water-surface productivity, a reorganization of intermediate water masses, and a reinvigoration of the OMZ. Eleven sediment samples from ODP Site 721A were analyzed using a multiproxy approach combining total organic carbon, C/N ratios, bulk-sediment isotopes (δ15N, δ13C), and the relative abundances of Globigerina bulloides and Globigerinoides ruber, complemented by isotopic data (δ13C, δ18O) from G. ruber shells. Further Mg/Ca–δ18O and δ18Osw measurements were included to refine the reconstruction of surface-water hydrography linked to productivity changes. Results reveal significant oscillations in water-surface productivity and OMZ intensity, modulated by shifts in monsoon strength and water-column ventilation. Enriched δ15N values, elevated TOC, and increased G. bulloides relative abundances reflect intensified denitrification and organic matter preservation under a stronger southwest monsoon, whereas depleted δ15N, reduced TOC, and higher G. ruber abundance indicate enhanced ventilation and a weaker OMZ under northeast monsoon dominance. These findings provide new evidence that refines the paleoceanographic history of the Arabian Sea. Additionally, they demonstrate that high-latitude climatic forcing during DO events modulated Arabian Sea monsoon dynamics and oxygenation through strong interhemispheric teleconnections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oceans in a Changing Climate)
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20 pages, 5774 KB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Hydrodynamics and Sediment Transport for Coastal Protection with Artificial Reefs
by Zhuo Fang, Chen Shen, Xun Han and Cun Hu
Oceans 2026, 7(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans7010016 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 931
Abstract
Artificial reefs (ARs) are eco-friendly coastal protection infrastructures that mitigate wave-induced erosion while maintaining hydrodynamic connectivity and supporting ecological functions. This study evaluates the protective efficacy of a shellfish-algae reef system—a new type of AR—within the Houlong Bay coastal restoration project (Quanzhou, China) [...] Read more.
Artificial reefs (ARs) are eco-friendly coastal protection infrastructures that mitigate wave-induced erosion while maintaining hydrodynamic connectivity and supporting ecological functions. This study evaluates the protective efficacy of a shellfish-algae reef system—a new type of AR—within the Houlong Bay coastal restoration project (Quanzhou, China) using an integrated numerical modeling approach. A coupled model system was established, incorporating MIKE 21 FM for hydrodynamics, MIKE 21 SW for waves, and MIKE ZERO ST for sediment transport, using unstructured triangular grids to resolve complex coastal topography. The model was validated against field data, including tidal currents and wave heights, showing good agreement. Pre-implementation simulations identified key coastal issues: insufficient wave attenuation in the southern fishery port segment, which results in localized erosion. Post-project simulations demonstrate that the novel integrated system—comprising shellfish-algae reefs, broad gentle beaches, and coastal vegetation—effectively reduced nearshore current speeds by approximately 0.15 m/s and attenuated significant wave heights by up to 70% during typhoon events. Short-term (1-year) sediment evolution showed mild deposition (0.1–0.8 m) at the toe of the artificial beach, which is consistent with design expectations. Long-term (10-year) simulations further confirmed coastal stability, with minimal long-term shoreline retreat (maximum 15 m) and low net alongshore sediment transport (annual average: 800 m3). This study provides a validated, data-driven reference for the design and implementation of AR-based restoration strategies in semi-enclosed bays, highlighting their dual role in erosion control and sustainable coastal management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oceans in a Changing Climate)
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14 pages, 1971 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Growth Pattern and Flexural Strength Characteristics of Rafted Ice
by Ying Xu, Wei Li, Kuankuan Wu, Sichong Ma, Guojun Wang, Yuepeng Li and Dayong Zhang
Oceans 2025, 6(4), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6040062 - 29 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1567
Abstract
As a critical factor in ice load calculation for marine structures in cold regions, the growth mechanism and mechanical properties of rafted ice urgently require clarification. This study systematically investigated the growth patterns and flexural strength characteristics of rafted ice through laboratory-prepared specimens. [...] Read more.
As a critical factor in ice load calculation for marine structures in cold regions, the growth mechanism and mechanical properties of rafted ice urgently require clarification. This study systematically investigated the growth patterns and flexural strength characteristics of rafted ice through laboratory-prepared specimens. Experimental results indicate that the thickness of rafted ice exhibits a negative correlation with both ambient temperature and initial ice thickness during growth. Due to the higher porosity of its frozen layer, the density of rafted ice decreases by approximately 8% on average compared to single-layer ice. Three-point bending tests demonstrate that, under the combined effect of high tensile strength in the lower ice layer and energy absorption by the porosity of the frozen layer, the flexural strength of rafted ice ranges from 1.12 to 1.34 times that of single-layer ice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oceans in a Changing Climate)
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Review

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73 pages, 18621 KB  
Review
AMOC and North Atlantic Ocean Decadal Variability: A Review
by Dan Seidov, Alexey Mishonov and James Reagan
Oceans 2025, 6(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans6030059 - 11 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4958
Abstract
The North Atlantic Ocean is vital to Earth’s climate system. Scientific investigations have identified the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as a significant factor influencing global climate change. This circulation involves ocean currents that carry relatively warm, salty water northward in the upper [...] Read more.
The North Atlantic Ocean is vital to Earth’s climate system. Scientific investigations have identified the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) as a significant factor influencing global climate change. This circulation involves ocean currents that carry relatively warm, salty water northward in the upper layers, while transporting colder, less salty water southward in the deeper layers. The AMOC relies on descending water at deep convection sites in the high-latitude North Atlantic (NA), where warmer water cools, becomes denser, and sinks. A concern regarding the AMOC is that the freshening of the sea surface at these convection sites can slow it by inhibiting deep convection. Researchers have used oceanographic observations and models of Earth’s climate and ocean circulation to investigate decadal shifts in the AMOC and NA. We examined these findings to provide insights into these models, observational analyses, and palaeoceanographic reconstructions, aiming to deepen our understanding of AMOC variability and offer potential predictions for future climate change in the North Atlantic. While the influence of high-latitude freshwater is crucial and may slow the AMOC, evidence also shows a complex feedback mechanism. In this mechanism, the negative feedback from wind stress can stabilize the AMOC, partially counteracting the positive feedback effects of freshwater at high latitudes. Although some models predict significant shifts in AMOC dynamics, suggesting imminent and possibly severe deceleration, recent observational research presents a more cautious view. These data analysis studies acknowledge changes, but highlight the robustness of the AMOC, particularly in its upper arm within the Gulf Stream system. While it cannot be entirely dismissed that the AMOC may reach its tipping point within this century, an analysis of data concerning the decadal variability in the AMOC’s upper arm indicates that a collapse is unlikely within this timeframe, although significant weakening remains quite possible. Furthermore, deceleration of the AMOC’s upper arm could lead to less stable and more vulnerable North Atlantic Ocean climate patterns over extended periods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oceans in a Changing Climate)
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