Physical oceanography articles from across Nature Portfolio

The Antarctic ice sheet meltwater impacts Atlantic meridional overturning circulation by cooling surface and shifting Intertropical Convergence Zone northward, causing increased precipitation, lower salinity, and reduced circulation strength in the northern tropical Atlantic, according to results from an ocean-atmosphere coupled general circulation model.

Analysis of high-resolution climate models reveals a substantial reduction in global oceanic kinetic energy under global warming. This reduction of oceanic kinetic energy is mainly due to weakened mesoscale eddies in the deep ocean.

We must prioritize diversity, scientific communication and team-based science to keep up with rapid Antarctic ice and climate change.

Observational data suggest a dramatic increase in the salinity contrast between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans over the course of the past half-century. Ocean dynamical processes driven by winds and warming, in addition to surface freshwater fluxes, make important contributions to basin-scale changes in ocean salinity.

Falk Oraschewski describes how phase-sensitive radio echo sounding can be used to measure melting at the base of ice shelves and englacial ice crystal orientations.

In 2023, global full-depth ocean heat content (OHC) reached a record increase of 464 ± 55 ZJ since 1960, with strong heat gain observed in the Southern and Atlantic Oceans. OHC was 16 ± 10 ZJ higher than in 2022, continuing the long-term increasing trend that started in 1960.

Volcanism after large, caldera-forming eruptions is thought to be muted. Exploration of the partially submerged caldera of Santorini reveals that large explosive eruptions have occurred since the caldera formed.