Journal of Marine Systems

Journal of Marine Systems
Title	Journal of Marine Systems
Abbreviation	J. Mar. Syst.
Discipline	Oceanography
Publisher	Elsevier
Country	Netherlands
History	1989–present
Frequency	Monthly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Issn	0924-7963

Journal of Marine Systems The Journal of Marine Systems is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research on physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes that govern marine environments. It serves as a venue for interdisciplinary studies connecting field observations, numerical modeling, and theoretical analysis relevant to coastal zones, continental shelves, marginal seas, and open oceans. The journal is published by Elsevier and is read by researchers associated with institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Alfred Wegener Institute.

History

The journal was established in 1989 during a period of expansion in oceanographic publishing influenced by advances at institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory. Early editorial boards included researchers from organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the British Antarctic Survey, and the Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer. Over time the journal evolved alongside major programs such as the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current studies, and the Global Ocean Observing System, reflecting shifts in funding priorities by agencies like the National Science Foundation, the European Commission, and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology. The journal's publishing model transitioned with Elsevier's acquisition pathways, engaging with initiatives from the Research Councils of the United Kingdom, the European Research Council, and national academies including the Royal Society and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

Scope and topics

The journal covers marine system research spanning topics tied to institutions and landmarks such as the Gulf Stream, the Benguela Current, the Kuroshio, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Arctic Ocean. Contributions address coupled processes studied by researchers affiliated with the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Association, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The scope includes studies of biogeochemical cycles examined by teams at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, the Finnish Environment Institute, and the Instituto Español de Oceanografía; numerical modeling explored at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research; and observational programs such as those run from R/V Knorr, RRS Discovery, R/V Sonne, and RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. The journal publishes work on ecosystem dynamics relevant to organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization, regional commissions such as the International Maritime Organization, and conservation entities including World Wildlife Fund and BirdLife International.

Editorial board and peer review

The editorial board typically comprises editors and associate editors from universities and research centers such as Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of California San Diego, and the University of Tokyo. Editorial policies reflect standards endorsed by societies like the American Geophysical Union, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, and the European Geosciences Union. Peer review is double-blind or single-blind depending on editorial practice, involving referees from laboratories at institutions including the Smithsonian Institution, the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the National Taiwan University, and CSIRO. The journal works with ethics frameworks promoted by organizations such as the Committee on Publication Ethics and aligns with open science initiatives from funding agencies like the Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation.

Abstracting and indexing

The journal is indexed in major databases and platforms used by researchers at institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of British Columbia. Abstracting and indexing services include Scopus, Web of Science, GeoRef, and INSPEC, which are frequented by scholars from Columbia University, Princeton University, and the University of Tokyo. The journal's articles are discoverable through library consortia like Research4Life, national libraries including the British Library and the Library of Congress, and digital infrastructures such as ORCID, CrossRef, and PubMed Central for eligible content. Citations are tracked alongside metrics maintained by Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier's Scopus evaluation systems.

Impact and reception

Scholars from universities and research institutes such as the University of Bergen, Dalhousie University, and the University of Western Australia cite the journal in work on climate-related phenomena including El Niño–Southern Oscillation, Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and the North Atlantic Oscillation. The journal has contributed to policy-relevant science informing bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and the United Nations Environment Programme. Impact factors and citation indicators published by Clarivate and Scopus are used by departments at the University of Southampton, the University of Lisbon, and the National University of Singapore to assess relevance in promotion and funding decisions.

Notable articles and special issues

The journal has published influential articles on topics studied at research centers such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, including works on shelf circulation near the Chesapeake Bay, sediment transport in the North Sea, and nutrient fluxes in the Baltic Sea. Special issues have gathered research from international programs like GEOTRACES, the Census of Marine Life, and the International Polar Year, featuring contributors from the Alfred Wegener Institute, the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Oceanographic Centre. Notable papers have been authored by scientists affiliated with Princeton University, the University of California Berkeley, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, addressing themes such as upwelling off the coast of Peru, mesoscale eddies in the Coral Sea, and hypoxia events in the Gulf of Mexico.

Category:Oceanography journals