The importance of the ocean for the wellbeing of our planet, humankind and sustainable development is finally being emphasised in the media. There is an imperative need to explain science-based information to keep raising awareness and inspiring the next generation. 

Deoxygenation, eutrophication, and acidification are increasingly mentioned in all means of communication, but their meaning and implication are not always clear. And what about operational oceanography, data processing, Earth modelling, and ocean modelling? To bring these concepts within anyone’s reach, Mercator Ocean International is now launching a new set of Ocean Explainers pages, as part of the Copernicus Marine Service*’s website.  

From outlining the importance of the oceans to highlighting the current policies put in place to protect them, the Ocean Explainers summarise – and yes, explain – the fundamentals of oceanography through definitions and visuals. The information found on these pages covers an array of topics, through three key themes: 

• Phenomena and threats: covers the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on the ocean, such as ocean warming and acidification 
• Policies: summarises the strategies put in place to protect the ocean 
• Operational oceanography: presents the science behind oceanography. 

Studying the ocean is becoming increasingly necessary to understand the ocean-climate nexus, the myriad of effects brought by climate change, pollution and other such threats. The more we know about our ocean, the better we can conserve it. 

We hope that these new pages will prove useful to you!  

*The Copernicus Marine Service is implemented by Mercator Ocean International on behalf of the European Commission.