Ocean–ice–atmosphere coupling in the Antarctic region plays a fundamental role in the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water, a major dense-water mass occupying the abyssal global ocean, while also exerting substantial influence on biogeochemical cycling and marine ecosystem processes in the Southern Ocean. The formation and export of Antarctic Bottom Water constitute a key component of the lower limb of the global meridional overturning circulation, contributing to deep-ocean ventilation, global heat redistribution, and climate regulation. These processes also provide an important pathway through which carbon taken up by the Southern Ocean is transferred to and stored in the deep ocean. At the same time, Circumpolar Deep Water from the open Southern Ocean can cross the continental slope and intrude onto the Antarctic continental shelf, transporting heat, salt, nutrients, and other biogeochemical constituents into shelf regions. Such intrusions influence shelf-water formation and transformation, Antarctic Bottom Water production, ice-shelf basal melting, and ecosystem and carbon-cycle processes.

The Ross Sea is one of the principal source regions of Antarctic Bottom Water and among the most biologically productive sectors of the Southern Ocean. The strong coupling among physical, biogeochemical, and ecological processes makes it a particularly important region for investigating multi-sphere ocean–ice–atmosphere–ecosystem interactions. The Ross Sea also contains the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica. Ice-shelf basal melting, meltwater input, and circulation within the sub-ice-shelf cavity are closely linked to the formation, transformation, and transport of shelf water. By modifying ocean stratification, freshwater distribution, and shelf circulation, these processes can affect sea-ice variability, dense-water formation, nutrient supply, and ecosystem functioning. Systematic investigation of coupled multi-sphere processes in the Ross Sea is therefore essential for improving understanding of Antarctic Bottom Water variability and its implications for the global overturning circulation. It is also critical for elucidating Southern Ocean carbon uptake and sequestration, water-mass and material exchanges across the continental shelf and slope, ecosystem energy and biogeochemical fluxes, and their associated climate feedbacks.

In recent years, advances in multidisciplinary field observations, autonomous observing platforms, satellite remote sensing, and high-resolution coupled numerical modelling have substantially improved understanding of ocean–ice–atmosphere–ecosystem interactions in the Ross Sea. Important progress has been made in research on dense-water formation and transport, Circumpolar Deep Water intrusions, ice shelf–ocean interactions, carbon cycling, and ecosystem responses. To provide a forum for presenting recent advances and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, Advances in Polar Science (APS) is organizing a special issue entitled “Ocean–Ice–Atmosphere–Ecosystem Processes and Their Interactions in the Ross Sea, Antarctica”. Professor Zhaoru Zhang of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dr. Zhaomin Wang of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Dr. Keyhong Park of the Korea Polar Research Institute, Associate Scientist Jun Zhao of the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Dr. Chengyan Liu of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), and Assistant Scientist Xiaoqiao Wang of the National University of Defense Technology will serve as Guest Editors. Researchers working in relevant fields are warmly invited to submit original contributions or recommend suitable manuscripts for consideration in this special issue.

The special issue is planned for publication as a regular issue of APS (Volume 39, Issue 1) inMarch 2028.

Important Dates：

l Abstract submission deadline: December 31, 2026

l Manuscript submission deadline: June 30, 2027

l Final acceptance deadline: December 31, 2027

l Publication date: February, 2028

Submission Instructions:

(1) Manuscripts should be original and unpublished work, complying with the principles of academic integrity.

(2) We welcome various article types including Research Articles, Reviews, Opinion-Editorials (Commentaries), Trends/Letters, etc.

(3) We welcome both short and full-length articles, with manuscripts ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 words.

(4) Please prepare your manuscript according to the APS’s submission guidelines.

The themes of the special issue include, but are not limited to:

(1) Ocean–sea ice–atmosphere interactions in coastal polynyas;

(2) Water mass formation, transport, and transformation across the continental shelf and slope;

(3) Ocean–ice shelf interactions and their impacts on shelf circulation and water mass properties;

(4) Carbon cycling, uptake, transport, and export;

(5) Ecosystem dynamics and trophic interactions, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, krill, and fish, and their coupling with physical and biogeochemical processes;

(6) Future changes and predictability of the Ross Sea physical and biogeochemical system.

Guest Editors:

Zhaoru Zhang, zrzhang@sjtu.edu.cn

Zhaomin Wang, wangzhaomin@sml-zhuhai.cn

Keyhong Park, keyhongpark@kopri.re.kr

Jun Zhao, jzhao@sio.org.cn

Chengyan Liu, liuchengyan@sml-zhuhai.cn

Xiaoqiao Wang, wangxiaoqiao23@nudt.edu.cn

Editorial Office:

Tel: 086-21-58713642, 58713650

Email: journal@pric.org.cn