Name: Ocean Science
Link: www.ocean-science.net
Description: Ocean Science is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal publishing high-quality research on oceanographic processes, covering physical, biological, chemical, and geological aspects of the ocean.
Key Words: open-access, oceanography, peer-reviewed, physical oceanography, biogeochemical processes, marine ecosystems, interdisciplinary research
Introduction:
Ocean Science (OS) is an international, not-for-profit scientific journal dedicated to advancing the understanding of the ocean’s physical, biogeochemical, biological, and ecosystem properties and processes. Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), the journal was established in 2005 and has grown to become a respected platform for oceanographic research. It is fully open-access, ensuring that all articles are freely available online to a global audience, which aligns with its mission to rapidly disseminate the latest oceanographic developments and foster public discussion.
The journal covers a broad spectrum of ocean-related topics, including deep ocean dynamics, shelf seas, inland seas, and ocean-atmosphere interactions. It publishes studies on instrument development, in situ observations, remote sensing, data assimilation, laboratory experiments, and numerical and theoretical modeling. Ocean Science emphasizes interdisciplinary research, encouraging contributions that explore interactions between physics, biology, chemistry, and geology, as well as cross-scale processes and emerging fields like machine learning in oceanography. Specific areas of focus include ocean circulation, surface waves, tides, sea ice, marine ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, sediment processes, and coastal morphology, with a commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change and ecological degradation.
Ocean Science employs a unique open-peer-review process, which includes interactive public discussion of preprints in its discussion forum, Ocean Science Discussions (OSD). This transparent approach allows for community feedback before final publication, aiming to raise standards, improve information flow, and stimulate further research. The journal publishes various article types, including research articles, OS Letters (short, high-impact papers under 2,500 words), technical notes, and peer-reviewed comments and replies. OS Letters are particularly notable for reporting significant discoveries or progress on longstanding oceanic research questions, often gaining high visibility as “Highlight articles” within the EGU.
Manuscripts submitted to Ocean Science must adhere to strict guidelines, including a concise title, a clear abstract (up to 200 words for OS Letters), and numbered sections. The journal encourages data sharing through repositories and supports supplementary materials like videos or extensive datasets, with videos registered via the TIB Hannover AV Portal to obtain a DOI. Authors are required to provide proper citations, avoid excessive self-citation, and secure permissions for copyrighted material. The journal also promotes accessibility by requiring descriptive figure captions and supporting open science practices.
Indexed in major databases like Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, Ocean Science maintains a strong reputation without emphasizing citation metrics, focusing instead on the quality and impact of its publications. In 2024–2025, the journal celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special issue of “reviews and perspectives” papers, reflecting on advancements in ocean sciences over the past two decades and looking forward to future developments. This initiative welcomes contributions from all researchers, including early-career scientists, to foster diverse perspectives.
Ocean Science stands out for its commitment to high-quality, open-access publishing, rigorous peer review, and fostering global collaboration in oceanographic research, making it an essential resource for scientists, policymakers, and educators seeking to understand and address the complexities of the ocean in a changing world.
