About this Research Topic
The Southern Ocean is a pivotal component of the Earth's climate system, significantly influencing global oceanic circulation and climate regulation. It acts as a major conduit for the exchange of water masses, heat, freshwater, dissolved gases, and nutrients between the Southern Ocean and lower latitudes. Over recent decades, the Southern Ocean has experienced substantial changes driven by variations in atmospheric forcing and air-sea heat and freshwater exchanges. Notably, north of 60°S, there has been local warming, increased salinity, and zonal acceleration of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) fronts, while south of 70°S, salinity has decreased. These changes have led to the strengthening of the Antarctic Coastal Current and a weakening of the abyssal overturning circulation, with significant implications for global ocean circulation and climate, including reduced deep ocean oxygen content, decreased CO2 absorption capacity, and alterations in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Despite its global significance, the Southern Ocean remains one of the least understood regions, necessitating advanced observational techniques and models to better capture its complex dynamics and predict future changes.
This research topic aims to consolidate cutting-edge research that enhances our understanding of the physical oceanography of the Southern Ocean, with a focus on its dynamics, interactions with the atmosphere, and response to climate change. The primary objectives include exploring the structure and variability of the ACC, understanding deep-water formation and its global implications, and investigating the impacts of climatic phenomena such as the Antarctic Oscillation and ENSO on the Southern Ocean. Additionally, the research seeks to address the effects of climate change on sea surface temperature, sea ice dynamics, and the feedback mechanisms between the Southern Ocean and the global climate system.
To gather further insights into the physical processes in the Southern Ocean, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Ocean Circulation: Structure and dynamics of the ACC, deep-water formation, and their global impacts.
- Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions: Effects of AAO/SAM and ENSO, heat and moisture exchange processes.
- Effects of Climate Change: Warming trends, climate feedbacks, and tipping points.
- Sea Ice, Icebergs, and Ice Shelves Dynamics: Ice-ocean interactions, iceberg calving, and glacier melting.
- Mixing and Stratification Processes: Turbulence, vertical mixing, and their influence on stratification.
- Technological Innovations in Physical Oceanography: Observation and monitoring advancements, ML and AI applications, and modeling and simulation developments.
This research topic aims to consolidate cutting-edge research that enhances our understanding of the physical oceanography of the Southern Ocean, with a focus on its dynamics, interactions with the atmosphere, and response to climate change. The primary objectives include exploring the structure and variability of the ACC, understanding deep-water formation and its global implications, and investigating the impacts of climatic phenomena such as the Antarctic Oscillation and ENSO on the Southern Ocean. Additionally, the research seeks to address the effects of climate change on sea surface temperature, sea ice dynamics, and the feedback mechanisms between the Southern Ocean and the global climate system.
To gather further insights into the physical processes in the Southern Ocean, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Ocean Circulation: Structure and dynamics of the ACC, deep-water formation, and their global impacts.
- Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions: Effects of AAO/SAM and ENSO, heat and moisture exchange processes.
- Effects of Climate Change: Warming trends, climate feedbacks, and tipping points.
- Sea Ice, Icebergs, and Ice Shelves Dynamics: Ice-ocean interactions, iceberg calving, and glacier melting.
- Mixing and Stratification Processes: Turbulence, vertical mixing, and their influence on stratification.
- Technological Innovations in Physical Oceanography: Observation and monitoring advancements, ML and AI applications, and modeling and simulation developments.
Keywords: Southern Ocean, Physical processes, Ocean dynamics, Climate change, Ocean interactions
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
