Ocean and Climate

Our climate is determined by the complex interactions between the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere and the geosphere, and it is ultimately the basis of all life on our planet. The ocean is one of the components, especially on long time scales. In addition to natural fluctuations controlled by interactions of the various components and the astronomical boundary conditions, the ever-increasing influence of human activities has been contributing to the changes in the climate system since the end of the 19th century. As a result, the ocean is not only getting warmer, but the seawater is becoming more acidic, loses its oxygen, and the sea level is rising.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is making an important contribution to a better understanding of the complex climate system. "Ocean and Climate" is one of the three central research topics at GEOMAR. The research spectrum ranges from natural climate fluctuations in the past to the detailed study of the current ocean system to the modelling of future climate states, which enables the assessment of possible consequences and the evaluation of climate protection and climate adaptation strategies. GEOMAR offers the best conditions for this: Scientists from a wide range of disciplines work together to investigate physical, chemical, biological or geological processes in the ocean in order to achieve a holistic view of the climate system and its changes and interactions with ecosystems.

News about Ocean and Climate

 CDRmare Werkstattbericht mit dem Titel "CDRmare HUB Workshop Report"
04.03.2026

The Challenges of Environmental Monitoring in Field Trials for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal

Experts explain why it is so difficult to measure and assess the environmental impact of experiments on marine CO2 removal methods

A thermometer in the sand at the beach showing 40 degrees Celsius
03.03.2026

Climate Models with High Resolution in the Ocean Can Better Represent European Heat Waves

New study shows the key role of the North Atlantic in simulating extreme heat

Screenshot of a website showing a section of coastline from the air
02.02.2026

CDRatlas: A Guide to CO2 Removal Methods on Land and in the Ocean

New online platform makes CDR approaches transparent and comparable

Wave. It has white foam. On the sea.
20.01.2026

Ventilation of the North Atlantic is Weakening

Slower renewal of deep waters may signal climate change

A sailing boat, or rather a racing yacht, on the sea
15.01.2026

Sailboat measurements improve estimates of ocean CO2 uptake

During training cruises and regattas, sailors collect valuable data for climate research at sea