Ocean and coastal science
Ocean science studies the physics, chemistry, biology and geology of the oceans and coasts. It informs sea-level rise, storm surge, marine heatwaves, acidification and fisheries change, all of which affect coastal populations and trade. Oceans and Coasts stewards this page for the Nexus Consortium.
- 01InstitutionThe Global Centre for Risk and Innovation (GCRI)
- 02Service levelR0: information and enquiries
- 03In briefThe short answer
- 04The methodWhat ocean and coastal science covers
- 05Reference practiceOcean science runs on sustained, shared observing systems
- 06In systemic risk workSlow ocean change sets the baseline for fast coastal hazards
- 07Applied inPlatforms that apply this method
GCRI · Institution · service level R0
The short answer.
Ocean science studies the physics, chemistry, biology and geology of the oceans and coasts. Ocean projections guide coastal defence, port planning and fisheries management. In the Nexus Consortium, Oceans and Coasts stewards its canonical page, and 4 other platforms apply it, including Biodiversity Nexus as well as Climate and Hazards.
Oceans and coasts in the Arctic.
Seas, straits, reefs and ports, and how much of each division lies near the coast, shown for the Arctic as an example geography for this subject.
What ocean and coastal science covers.
- 01
Core methods
ocean circulation modelling; storm surge and wave modelling; coastal morphodynamic analysis; biogeochemical modelling; fisheries stock assessment; tide gauge analysis.
- 02
Data and instruments
tide gauges; satellite altimetry; profiling floats and moorings; research vessel surveys; coastal bathymetry.
- 03
Validation
Models are checked against tide gauge records, altimetry and in situ profiles. Hindcasts of past storms and heatwaves test predictive skill.
- 04
Limits
Coastal processes at fine scale and ice sheet contributions to sea level remain uncertain. Observations of the deep ocean and polar seas are sparse.
- 05
Use in risk decisions
Ocean projections guide coastal defence, port planning and fisheries management. They link marine hazards to food security, shipping routes and coastal economies.
Ocean science runs on sustained, shared observing systems.
| Reference | What it sets |
|---|---|
| Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) | Essential ocean variables and observing network design |
| Argo | Profiling floats measuring temperature and salinity of the upper ocean |
| Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level | Tide-gauge records of relative sea level |
| GEBCO | Global bathymetry |
Slow ocean change sets the baseline for fast coastal hazards.
Storm surge on a higher sea level reaches further inland; a marine heatwave on a warmer baseline lasts longer. Ocean science supplies both the slow trend and the event physics. Risk analyses often take the trend from one source and the event from another without checking that the datum and baseline are consistent.
- Distinguish relative from absolute sea-level change; land subsidence can dominate locally.
- Use consistent vertical datums when combining tide gauges, satellite altimetry and elevation models.
- Report the low-likelihood, high-impact ice-sheet range separately from the likely range.
- Applications on Oceans and Coasts and Climate and Hazards.
Platforms that apply this method.
Who maintains this page.
Oceans and Coasts stewards ocean and coastal science: it keeps this description current and reviews how the method is applied across the platforms.
Terms used on this page.
Each term as this page uses it. Where a standard-setting body defines the term, the wording follows that body.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Storm surge | A rise in sea level above the tide caused by a storm's winds and low pressure. |
| Rapid intensification | A sharp increase in a tropical cyclone's maximum winds over a short period. |
| Stock assessment | A scientific estimate of a fish stock's size and the fishing pressure on it, used to set catch limits. |
| Degree heating weeks | A measure of accumulated heat stress on coral reefs used to forecast bleaching. |
Where this page's references lead.
The bodies and documents this page is read against. Status and editions change; each link goes to the issuing body.
Where this page leads across the Consortium.
- Ocean science for marine biodiversityGCRIApplied in Biodiversity Nexus.
- Ocean science for climate hazardsGCRIApplied in Climate and Hazards.
- Ocean science for coastal riskGCRIApplied in Oceans and Coasts.
- Ocean science for maritime diplomacyGRFApplied in Diplomacy Nexus.
- Ocean and coastal science for reinsurance and catastropheGRAApplied in Reinsurance and Catastrophe.
Questions and answers.
Why does one institution host every method page?
How do I suggest a correction to a method page?
Around GCRI.
Start with an enquiry.
The current service level is R0: information and enquiries. An enquiry receives a reference and names the next step; applications, payments, compute allocations and registrations open only when their team, terms and review capacity exist.