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Research subject Oceanography

The field of oceanography encompasses both surface currents and deep water circulation. Surface currents and the overturning water that forms deep water currents, distribute heat and salt between different regions of the Earth as well as with depth in the oceans.

In oceanography, the mechanisms of the ocean circulation is studied. Scientists use observations from satellites and expeditions together with theoretical and numerical models. By studying the oceanic and atmospheric overturning circulation it is possible to track e.g. heat, salt and moisture exchanges between low and high latitudes.

Oceanic circulation has changed through the course of time and some scientist study short term to long term marine climate change as well as processes at the sea-air interface.

Related research subject

Atmosphere, ocean and climate science

Ocean with iceberg. Photo: Johan Nilsson/Stockholm University

Researchers

Research groups

Baltic Sea Fellows

As a continuation of the governmental funding of strategic Baltic Sea research, this interdisciplinary network of young Baltic Sea, Baltic Sea Fellows, formed at Stockholm University 2018. Their research cover the whole range from basic marine research to applied legal aspects and decision support.

Baltic Sea Oceanography

The Baltic Sea is one of the best-surveyed and studied seas on Earth. Yet the Baltic Sea circulation and its role in the complex climate system is neither fully quantified nor understood, in spite of important implications for coastal societies of the Baltic Sea region.

Photo: Benjamin Jones/Stockholm University

Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim)

The Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim) is a multidisciplinary strategic partnership and research infrastructure project between Stockholm University and the University of Helsinki. The research within CoastClim evaluates the links between coastal biodiversity, carbon cycling, and climate feedbacks.

Circulation and connection land-sea-atmosphere

Over long timescales, the circulation systems co-evolve with ice sheets, mountain ranges, and redistributions of carbon between the atmosphere, ocean and land. The circulation and associated feedbacks influence exchanges of energy and materials between compartments of the climate system, and create teleconnections and natural climate variability.

Image: Ines Jakobsson/Stockholm University

Polar Meteorology and Oceanography

The global warming is not uniformly distributed over the Earth. The polar regions are especially sensitive for climate change and the warming in the Arctic is more than twice as fast as for the Earth on average. The effects of this warming are large, with a dramatic loss of sea ice as an example.

The icebreaker Oden on expedition in the Arctic. Photo: Michael Tjernström/MISU/Stockholm University

The North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

In the North Atlantic, a mighty current system conveys, via the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current, warm surface waters to northerly subpolar areas where deep water is formed. This current system, which is an important link in the global ocean circulation connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, also carries warm Atlantic water into the Arctic Ocean.

Ocean and clouds. Photo: Johan Nilsson/MISU/Stockholm University

Courses and programmes

Departments and centres

Interdepartmental and international collaboration is a key factor for research. Researchers at the Department of Meteorology, the Bolin Centre for Climate Reseach and the Baltic Sea Centre collaborate with SMHI, KTH The Royal Institute of Technology and other Swedish and international universities and organisations.

The Department of Meteorology also administrates The International Meteorological Institute in Stockholm which works towards increasing the exchange and collaboration between scientists in different countries.

Department of Meteorology Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre