Chinese marginal seas, spanning from the temperate Bohai Sea to the subtropical South China Sea, face intensifying environmental pressures that threaten their ecological functions. The degradation observed—from eutrophication to biodiversity loss—is mediated by complex, region-specific interactions among physical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. To effectively diagnose and forecast these changes, a holistic understanding rooted in classical oceanographic disciplines is essential. Aligned with the mission of the IMBeR-FEC Continental Margins Working Group, this Special Issue synthesizes contemporary research on these vital systems through an integrated, process-oriented lens. We integrate interdisciplinary perspectives to develop globally applicable frameworks, that can help anticipate and mitigate pressures on changing marginal seas worldwide.
Guest editors:
Professor SuMei Liu,Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
Email: sumeiliu@ouc.edu.cn
(Nutrient cycles, nitrogen isotope, environmental evolution, atmospheric deposition, social-ecosystem interactions)
Professor Ying Wu,
East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
Email: wuying@sklec.ecnu.edu.cn
(Organic geochemistry, biomarkers, source and sink)
Professor Xinyu Guo,
Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
Email: guo.xinyu.mz@ehime-u.ac.jp
(Ecosystem modelling, circulations, transport, marginal seas)
Professor SungHyun Nam,
Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Email: namsh@snu.ac.kr
(Satelite oceanography, observation, climate, seaweed biomass)
Special issue information:
The Chinese marginal seas, spanning from the semi-enclosed Bohai Sea to the broad epicontinental shelves of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, and further to the deeper basin of the South China Sea, exhibit a clear latitudinal gradient in anthropogenic impact. Critically their responses to these pressures are mediated by a complex interplay of physical, chemical and biological processes rooted in their distinct oceanographic settings. This Special Issue synthesizes existing research on the ecosystems of Chinese marginal seas to address critical knowledge gaps and advance scientific frameworks that can be extrapolated globally.
Manuscript submission information:
Submission Deadline: July 1st, 2026
Editorial Submission Site: Submit your manuscript | Progress in Oceanography
Both the Guide for Authors and the submission portal could be found on the Journal Homepage here: Progress in Oceanography | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier
When submitting, please select “VSI: Changing Chinese Seas” when you reach the “Select Article Type” step at the start of the submission process.
All the submissions deemed suitable to be sent for peer review will be reviewed by at least two independent reviewers. Upon its editorial acceptance, your article will go into production immediately. It will be published in the latest regular issue, while be presented on the specific Special Issue webpage simultaneously. In regular issues, Special Issue articles will be clearly marked and branded.
Keywords:
Environmental changes, ecosystem impacts, covering physical, geological, chemical, biological, and fishery-related aspects, marginal seas
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