

The Russian research vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov approaches the snout of the Mertz Glacier in Eastern Antarctica. This photo was taken just before deploying ROPOS, a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV), beneath the glacier tongue to investigate the melting of the ice sheet following the calving of a massive iceberg that had extended 100 km (62 miles) into the Southern Ocean in 2010 (photo credit: G. Suaria).
Ocean Processes
and Climate Variability
At ISMAR, we integrate remotely sensed and in-situ observations with advanced numerical and statistical modeling, alongside Artificial Intelligence algorithms. This comprehensive approach allows us to reconstruct, analyze, and predict the impacts of global warming on oceanic systems across various temporal and spatial scales. Our research focuses on understanding the dynamics of energy, water, and carbon cycles on both global and regional levels.
In particular, we investigate the variability induced by anthropogenic activities (external forcing) that intersect and interact with natural climate variability (internal forcing). This interplay produces complex processes that occur across multiple spatio-temporal scales, making our studies essential for comprehending the intricate relationships within the ocean-climate system.
Understanding these processes—both current and historical—is crucial for monitoring and forecasting the effects of climate change on ocean circulation, ecosystems, and the productive activities that rely on them. Notably, the consequences of long-term climate change are particularly evident in the North Atlantic, where we observe a weakening of thermohaline circulation. Additionally, phenomena such as “atlantification” in the Arctic Ocean and “tropicalization” in the Mediterranean Sea highlight significant shifts in marine environments. These terms refer to the pronounced intrusion and alteration of Arctic water properties and the rapid warming and salinization of Mediterranean waters, respectively. We are witnessing an increase in the intensity and frequency of marine heatwaves and the encroachment of allochthonous—often invasive—tropical species into these waters.