Core Theme

 

Ocean and Climate

What is the role of the ocean in the global climate system and how can we improve predictions and scenarios?

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Core Theme

 

Marine Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles

How does climate change alter marine communities and what are the consequences for humankind?

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Core Theme

 

Ocean Threats and Benefits

How can we forecast marine natural hazards and use resources from the seafloor in a responsible way?

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GEOMAR: Our World is the Ocean

GEOMAR explores the global ocean from the seafloor to the atmosphere to understand the ocean system and enable the development of sustainable solutions for pressing societal issues. Its research and its commitment to knowledge and technology transfer contribute significantly to preserving the function of the ocean and safeguarding it for future generations.

GEOMAR research covers a unique range of physical, chemical, biological and geological ocean processes. Members of the four research divisions Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Ecology and Dynamics of the Ocean Floor cooperate in the three core themes Ocean and Climate, Marine Ecosystems and Biogeochemical Cycles and Ocean Threats and Benefits as well as the four Integrative Research Foci Atlantic Ocean Upwelling, Marine Carbon Sinks, Digital Twin Ocean and Metals in the Ocean. All work focuses on the open “blue” ocean.

 

GEOMAR Research News

European flat oysters on a white table
05.03.2026

How diseases spread between oyster reefs

New study reveals which restoration sites are most at risk from pathogens carried by ocean currents

Group Photo in the Foyer of a research centre
04.03.2026

Insights from Expeditions

Status Conference Research Vessels 2026 at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

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

 Man wearing a helmet aboard a ship in the backlight at sunset. A chain with large round buoyancy devices hangs diagonally above him.
17.02.2026

Coastal Kelvin Waves and Marine Heatwaves in the Tropical Atlantic

Expedition M217/1 investigates upwelling system and extreme events off the southwest African coast