This paper synthesizes the key contributions and lessons learned from Integrated Marine Biosphere Research (IMBeR), a large-scale global research project aimed at fostering ocean sustainability under global change for the benefit of society. The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development has catalyzed a renewed focus on the importance of transforming ocean science. IMBeR's global activity over the past decade has focused on promoting transformative science by generating, mobilizing, and communicating the knowledge needed to support ocean governance. Key contributions from IMBeR participants include quantifying and comparing historic and present structure and functioning of linked ocean and human systems, advancing interdisciplinarity in ocean science, establishing a strong global network that has supported long-term collaboration, capacity building, and career development for participants. In synthesizing IMBeR contributions, we also highlight several challenges identified by the IMBeR community in developing and implementing this global research initiative. These include an uncertain and rapidly changing (and often limited) funding landscape, the reliance on significant additional workload on researchers to catalyze novel science initiatives, and the structural complexity of global networks that can at times impede rapid responses to new questions, opportunities, and overall adaptability. Opportunities for transformative ocean science include developing more resilient and equitable funding models, fostering agile, inclusive, and transdisciplinary collaborations, and strengthening the science-policy interface. This synthesis is intended to help inform and guide large-scale ocean research efforts and contribute to ongoing global initiatives to foster transformative science that links people and oceans for healthy and sustainable futures.

Key Points The editors thank the 2025 peer reviewers!

Abstract We are very grateful for the reviews done in 2025 to support the published articles of Perspectives of Earth and Space Sciences. This year we had 51 reviews. As a relatively young journal, Perspectives is still defining its role withing AGU. Perspectives has added several new article formats in order to help support intra‐AGU communication. These new formats included Commentaries, Opinions, News Items, and Memorials, which means additional challenges for reviewers, as the review criteria for these new formats vary from each other. This year also saw an increase in the diversity of styles and authorships of Perspectives Articles, which are the primary format of the journal, but the bulk of these Articles still took a large‐scale big‐picture view of a particular scientific perspective, across the full range of Earth and space sciences. Once again this year, we are very grateful for the wisdom and flexibility shown by our reviewers, and the entire editorial board of Perspectives would like to express our deep appreciation for all the work they have done. Thank you!

The editorial team of AGU Advances is grateful for the excellent contributions of our peer reviewers. We rely on their expertise to ensure that the manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a rigorous, fair, and timely review. Remarkably, during 2024, the journal benefitted from the dedication from 273 reviewers, contributing a total of 338 reviews. These reviewers represented 24 countries. These reviewers provided insights of tremendous and generous value, and they assisted our authors in strengthening the rigor, quality, and presentation of their scholarship. Peer reviewing provides a natural way to engage in continuous learning and professional development. The majority of our reviewers are geoscientists, although we also have interdisciplinary contributions as the scope of Advances covers the extended domain of geosciences, intersecting with economics, communication and computational science, and the social sciences at large. Authors benefit greatly from reviewers' comments and suggestions: already more than 10 years ago, a study reported that most authors (90%) believe that peer review improved the last paper they published (Mulligan et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.22798 ). Although the research and publishing arena is rapidly changing, peer review is considered the optimal standard for evaluating and selecting quality scientific manuscripts for publication, and therefore is highly deserving of our appreciation. We thank all of our peer reviewers for their selfless service and dedication to the scientific community. Your continuing support to the authors and editorial team of AGU Advances is deeply appreciated.

The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a committee in June 2023 to assess the potential hydrodynamic and ecological impacts from offshore wind energy development in the Nantucket Shoals region, with particular attention to impacts on the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) that forages on zooplankton aggregations in the region. The assessment suggested that the effects of offshore wind energy development will be difficult to distinguish from the effects of natural variability and climate change in this region. The Consensus Study Report recommendations highlight observational and modeling studies that will advance understanding of potential hydrodynamic effects and impacts on the ecology of the region. A subsequent workshop provided guidance on observational needs and approaches for a field monitoring program to advance model capability to simulate effects of offshore wind energy development on Nantucket Shoals hydrodynamics and ecology. Observational and modeling programs implemented for the Nantucket Shoals region will inform other regions of the US East Coast continental shelf that have been designated for offshore wind energy development.

We are very grateful for the reviews done in 2024 to support the published articles of Perspectives of Earth and Space Sciences. This year we had 40 reviews. As a relatively young journal, Perspectives is still defining its role withing AGU. Perspectives has added several new article formats in order to help support intra‐AGU communication. These new formats included Commentaries, Opinions, News Items, and Memorials, which means additional challenges for reviewers, as the review criteria for these new formats vary from each other. This year also saw an increase in the diversity of styles and authorships of Perspectives Articles, which are the primary format of the journal, but the bulk of these Articles still took a large‐scale big‐picture view of a particular scientific perspective, across the full range of Earth and space sciences. Once again this year, we are very grateful for the wisdom and flexibility shown by our reviewers, and the entire editorial board of Perspectives would like to express our deep appreciation for all the work they have done. Thank you!

Trends in Atlantic surfclam (Spisula solidissima) population demographic parameters were analyzed using age and length observations obtained from NOAA stock surveys conducted from the 1980s to 2010s in six regions distributed along the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) continental shelf. Atlantic surfclam asymptotic length and specific growth rate were estimated for each survey region and decade using the von Bertalanffy growth function. Specific mortality rates were estimated using a linearized negative exponential relationship and the maximum Atlantic surfclam age observed in each survey region for each decade. The estimated Atlantic surfclam mean length in the southern regions of the MAB decreased from 127 to 103 mm, about a 19% decrease, over the four decades. The mean length remained stable at about 130-135 mm in the central survey regions in contrast to the mean length of the Georges Bank Atlantic surfclam population which showed an increase from 101 to 135 mm over the four decades. The asymptotic length estimated for the southernmost survey region declined by 20% and remained relatively constant for the other survey regions over the four decades. Estimated specific growth rates remained unchanged for most of the survey regions, with the overall regional mean decreasing from about 0.25 y(-1) in the 1980s to 0.20 y(-1) by the 2010s. Specific mortality rates were not significantly different across the survey regions, although the maximum age estimated for the population in the southern survey region decreased by about 36%. This study provides a quantitative assessment of past and ongoing changes in MAB Atlantic surfclam population demographics that can be used to develop projections of responses to stresses imposed by climate change and commercial fishing.

Western boundary currents (WBCs) adjacent to subtropical continental shelves (STCSs; between ~25° and 35° latitude; Figure 1) transport heat, nutrients, and biota poleward along the western margins of major ocean basins, interacting with the continental margins and influencing their physics and biology. Eddies and meanders along the shelf edge upwell deep, nutrient-laden water that can be advected onto the adjacent shelves with a corresponding export of particle-rich shelf water (e.g., Lee et al., 1991; Kimura et al., 1997; Campos et al., 2000; Roughan and Middleton, 2002, 2004; Lutjeharms, 2006; Savidge and Savidge, 2014). Despite their similarities, the various STCS regions display key differences with respect to boundary current strength and variability, shelf width and geometry, and trophic structure. Comparative analyses of the physical forcing and biological responses among STCS have the potential to reveal common underlying properties, forcing mechanisms, and sensitivities to climatic perturbations that are not possible to elucidate with region-specific studies. This kind of fundamental understanding of relationships between physics and biological responses is critical to predicting consequences of environmental change across a wide range of spatiotemporal scales.

AbstractWe are very grateful for the reviews done in 2023 to support the published articles of Perspectives of Earth and Space Sciences. Last year we had 56 reviews and this year it was 49. As a relatively young journal, Perspectives is still defining its role withing AGU. This year Perspectives added several new article formats in order to help support intra‐AGU communication. These new formats included Commentaries, Opinions, News Items, and Memorials, which means additional challenges for reviewers, as the review criteria for these new formats vary from each other. This year also saw an increase in the diversity of styles and authorships of Perspectives Articles, which are the primary format of the journal, but the bulk of these Articles still took a large‐scale big‐picture view of a particular scientific perspective, across the full range of Earth and space sciences. Once again this year, we are very grateful for the wisdom and flexibility shown by our reviewers, and the entire editorial board of Perspectives would like to express our deep appreciation for all the work they have done. Thank you!

On behalf of the AGU Advances editorial team, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who reviewed manuscripts for us in 2023. Peer review is time-consuming, but it remains essential to the scientific process. Advances reviewers continue to help define the scope of our journal by commenting specifically on whether a paper is likely to have broad and immediate impact. We also appreciate the degree to which reviewers have embraced AGU's open data strategies, although this obviously takes more time. plain Language Summary At AGU Advances, we respect the time of reviewers. Papers submitted to AGU Advances first go through an editorial review process. We send for review only those papers that the consulting editors agree are "reviewer-ready"-that advance the science and communicate results clearly and without obvious errors. This year, we increased the standard requested time to review from 2 to 3 weeks in recognition that we ask reviewers to take on full-length papers with the added need to consider the availability of data. If after review, we think the paper better suited to another journal, we try to streamline the process by allowing authors to transfer reviews if we decide the paper is better suited to another AGU journal. We received 281 submissions in 2023, and 177 reviewers contributed to their evaluation. With AGU Advances transparent review, the reviewer comments and author responses for every paper are published as a supplement to the paper. We still feel the numbers of papers and reviewers are small enough that we will refrain from publishing the names this year-you know who you are, and we thank you!

Abstract To fulfill their conservation potential and provide safeguards for biodiversity, marine protected areas (MPAs) need coordinated research and monitoring for informed management through effective evaluation of ecosystem dynamics. However, coordination is challenging, often due to knowledge gaps caused by inadequate access to data and resources, compounded by insufficient communication between scientists and managers. We propose to use the world's largest MPA in the Ross Sea, Antarctica as a model system to create a comprehensive framework for an interdisciplinary network supporting research and monitoring that could be implemented in other remote large‐scale international MPAs. Our proposed framework has three key components: (i) policy engagement, including delineation of policy needs and ecosystem metrics to assess MPA effectiveness; (ii) community partner engagement to elevate diverse voices, build trust, and share resources; and (iii) integrated science comprising three themes. These themes are: advancement of data science and cyberinfrastructure to facilitate data synthesis and sharing; biophysical modeling towards understanding ecosystem changes and uncertainties; and execution of observational and process studies to address uncertainties and evaluate ecosystem metrics. This proposed framework can improve MPA implementation by generating policy‐relevant science through this coordinated network, which can in turn improve MPA effectiveness in the Ross Sea and beyond.

The Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima supports a lucrative commercial fishery in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) worth roughly $30 million in revenue per year. Rapid climate change is expected to modify the geographic range of the Atlantic surfclam, with consequences for the surfclam fishery. This study evaluated fishery-based indicators projected from 2020 through 2095 based on anticipated changes in the geographic range and biomass of the Atlantic surfclam, using a Spatially Explicit, agent-based Fisheries and Economics Simulator (SEFES). Simulations generally showed a positive trend in Atlantic surfclam biomass throughout the next three-quarters of the 21st century as the clam's range continues to shift offshore and northward along the continental shelf. A general decrease in fishing mortality rate is projected given the present fleet capacity, with a simultaneous increase in catch and landings per unit effort (LPUE), signaling future potential growth in the surfclam fishery. Regionally, forecasts show biomass expanding into deeper waters particularly off New Jersey, Long Island, and southern New England starting in the early 2050s, whereas populations on Georges Bank and off Delmarva gradually decline. Trends in time spent fishing, catch, and LPUE parallel those of biomass in each region. These results can inform managers and business interests that rely on this fishery, as well as other users of the continental shelf, to provide a basis for the development of anticipatory management for the socio-ecological and economic impacts that may result from future changes in the Atlantic surfclam range and carrying capacity consequent of climate change.

The Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, and ocean quahog, Arctica islandica, are biomass dominant bivalve species on the eastern North American continental shelf, both supporting lucrative commercial fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic with a combined value of about $53.6 million in ex-vessel revenue per year. The thermal tolerance of Atlantic surfclam is generally below 20 degrees C, whereas the boreal ocean quahog resides in colder waters maintained by the Mid-Atlantic Bight Cold Pool. Climate-induced warming of bottom water temperatures is thought to be linked to the observed distributional shift of the Atlantic surfclam population into waters historically dominated by ocean quahogs. As climate change is expected to continue, this study investigated the future distributions of the two species from years 2016 to 2095 using projected bottom water temperatures and a temperature-dependent population dynamics model. Simulations show the progressive colonization of Atlantic surfclams offshore into the region earlier occupied by the Cold Pool throughout the 79-year projection, beginning between the mid-2040s and mid-2050s, effectively compressing ocean quahog habitat on all sides. Ocean quahogs are shown to be vulnerable to climate-induced warming on both the southern, inshore, and offshore portions of the continental shelf, ultimately restricting their habitat by the end of the 21st century to the remaining core of the Cold Pool off Long Island. Atlantic surfclams, however, are likely to be less vulnerable to climate-induced warming, ultimately increasing their geographic footprint across the MAB. Model projections indicate a large-scale reorganization event of the continental shelf benthic community structure throughout the remainder of the 21st century.

Offshore wind energy development on the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) portion of the Northwestern Atlantic continental shelf could have adverse impacts on the future of the Atlantic surfclam, Spisula solidissima, fishery. The current and potential future areas designated for offshore wind energy development overlap with the present-day and projected Atlantic surfclam fishing grounds and so could limit the fishery. Fishery impacts imposed by displacement of fishing outside wind farm areas and possible restrictions on vessel transit through the wind farms were simulated using a spatially explicit fishery model. The distribution of catch, hours fished, landings per unit effort (LPUE), time at sea, fishing mortality, and the number of fishing trips were projected for five time periods encompassing the period of 2016-2055. Simulations showed a significant decline in the mean of all fishery metrics (apart from LPUE) as the area of wind farm restrictions increased in scale. Impacts were consistently larger when vessel transit through and fishing within offshore wind areas were prohibited. Impacts were also larger for MAB regions off New Jersey and Delmarva than regions farther north and east. These simulations highlight the necessity of evaluating future conditions as warming temperatures shift the surfclam range relative to the immobile wind farm locations. The offshore wind industry must consider projected long-term impacts of developmental expansion on surrounding sedentary benthic species and the commercially important fisheries that rely on them.

Upward advection or mixing of iron-rich deep waters due to circulation changes driven by the rate of basal ice shelf melt was shown to be a primary control on chlorophyll a production in coastal polynyas over the Antarctic continental shelf. Here, the effects of atmospheric changes projected in 2100 on this relationship were examined with a 5-km resolution ocean/sea ice/ice shelf model of the Southern Ocean with different simulated dissolved iron sources and idealized biological uptake. The atmospheric changes are added as idealized increments to the forcing. Inclusion of a poleward shift and strengthening of the winds, increased precipitation, and warmer atmospheric temperatures resulted in doubling of the heat advected onto the continental shelf and an 83% increase in the total Antarctic ice shelf basal melt. The total dissolved iron supply to the surface waters over the continental shelf increased by 62%, while the surface iron supply due just to basal melt driven overturning increased by 48%. However, even though the ice shelf driven contribution becomes less important to the total iron supply on average (29% of total), the ice shelf involvement becomes relatively even more important in some locations, such as the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. The modified atmospheric conditions also produced a reduction in summer sea ice extent and a shoaling of the summer mixed layers. These simulated responses to projected changes suggest relief of light and nutrient limitation for phytoplankton blooms over the Antarctic continental shelf and perhaps an increase in annual production in years to come.The growth of phytoplankton in Antarctic coastal waters is limited by the availability of light for photosynthesis and the supply of the trace nutrient dissolved iron. When the bottom of the floating margins of the Antarctic ice sheet (the ice shelves) melts, the melt water is less dense and rises along the base of the ice shelf, which causes deeper waters with high iron concentrations to rise toward the surface. An earlier study showed that this overturning circulation driven by the melting ice shelves is an important source of dissolved iron to the well-lit surface waters in many locations around Antarctica. In this study, a computer model of the ocean and ice shelves is forced with projected future changes in different atmospheric conditions. These changes in the atmosphere lead to an increase in the ice shelf melt, the dissolved iron supplied to the ocean surface due to overturning driven by the ice shelf melt, and the total dissolved iron supplied to the surface. The atmospheric changes also reduce the summer sea ice cover, making more light available to the ocean surface. All these changes suggest that in the future, phytoplankton growth around Antarctica will increase.

AbstractThe journal Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists has expanded both its aims and its scope to better serve the community of Earth and space scientists and represent its diverse range. Perspectives is now adding several new article formats to better meet the needs of the Earth and space science community. These include memorials, commentaries, debates, opinion pieces, and news updates. The journal remains fully open access with publication costs borne by the American Geophysical Union, but is no longer by‐invitation‐only and welcomes submissions from all segments of the geophysical community to better represent the diversity in nationality, ethnicity, culture, gender, and career stage of Earth and space scientists.

The dynamics of marine systems at decadal scales are notoriously hard to predict-hence references to this timescale as the "grey zone" for ocean prediction. Nevertheless, decadal-scale prediction is a rapidly developing field with an increasing number of applications to help guide ocean stewardship and sustainable use of marine environments. Such predictions can provide industry and managers with information more suited to support planning and management over strategic timeframes, as compared to seasonal forecasts or long-term (century-scale) predictions. The most significant advances in capability for decadal-scale prediction over recent years have been for ocean physics and biogeochemistry, with some notable advances in ecological prediction skill. In this paper, we argue that the process of "lighting the grey zone" by providing improved predictions at decadal scales should also focus on including human dimensions in prediction systems to better meet the needs and priorities of end users. Our paper reviews information needs for decision-making at decadal scales and assesses current capabilities for meeting these needs. We identify key gaps in current capabilities, including the particular challenge of integrating human elements into decadal prediction systems. We then suggest approaches for overcoming these challenges and gaps, highlighting the important role of co-production of tools and scenarios, to build trust and ensure uptake with end users of decadal prediction systems. We also highlight opportunities for combining narratives and quantitative predictions to better incorporate the human dimension in future efforts to light the grey zone of decadal-scale prediction.

The Graphical User Interface (GUI) MarineEpi is presented as a Matlab toolbox for easily (i) constructing disease transmission models for different marine host-pathogen systems, (ii) running simulations by specifying initial conditions and model parameters, and (iii) interpreting the resulting time series of the host and pathogen population dynamics. MarineEpi users can generate models for systems in which pathogen transmission occurs through contact with infected individuals (SI), contact with dead infected individuals (SID), contact with environmental pathogens released by infected individuals (SIP), and contact with environmental pathogens released by dead infected individuals (SIPD). MarineEpi is a freely available GUI that provides the capability for marine disease researchers and managers to understand disease dynamics processes and mechanisms using a quantitative modeling framework. In addition, it can be a valuable learning tool for teaching marine disease processes in engineering, environmental science and epidemiology curricula.

The editorial board of AGU Advances thanks the individuals who reviewed for the journal in 2022.