Ocean and Coastal Research

This Special Article Collection on Ocean and Coastal Observation and Monitoring in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean address the unique and pressing challenges faced by this unique region. The Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, including its coastal and nearshore zones, plays a vital role in global ocean circulation, climate regulation, and biodiversity. However, these areas are poorly observed and monitored and increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, pollution, and anthropogenic pressures, which are accelerating the degradation of ecosystems and threatening both environmental and socio-economic stability. By focusing on this specific region, we aim to highlight the advances in ocean and coastal observation technologies and strategies that are essential for improving the understanding of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. This Special Article Collection intends to show innovative research, methodologies, and technologies, including advances in autonomous platforms and in-situ sensors, which are helping to build a more integrated, real-time monitoring system. 

This special issue aims to highlight the importance of continuous data collection, showing how integrated, real-time monitoring systems can advance scientific understanding and improve decision-making. By featuring research that uses data from these observational and monitoring programs or networks, we aim to demonstrate their critical role in supporting sustainable ocean and coastal management in the Southwestern Atlantic.

Guest Editors:
• Carlos A. E. Garcia (FURG)
• Mauro Cirano (UFRJ)

This is the Volume 74, Suppl. 1 (2026) of the Ocean and Coastal Research.