For more information, please contact:
Dr. R Ranith
[ rajranith@gmail.com ][keralacenerci@gmail.com][nansencentre.india@gmail.com]
Two-day International Conference on Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Environments
3-4 February 2026
At Bolgatty palace and island resort
Coastlines around the world are increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as sealevel rise, shoreline erosion, ecosystem degradation, and climate extreme events. This conference works around the scientific advances made in the project “Climate change impact on the marine coastal ecosystem of Kerala (C3e-Kerala)“, funded by the Research Council of Norway (www.c3ekerala.in). Climate effects on the Kerala coast are central to the project. The conference aims to showcase the scientific outcomes of the C3e-Kerala project as well as the latest advancements in research on the impact of climate change on the marine and coastal ecosystems around the world. It is an attempt to bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to share knowledge, discuss emerging challenges, and explore sciencebased solutions for building climateresilient coastal systems. The conference also provides a platform for dialogue between scientists and stakeholders to ensure that research outcomes are aligned with societal needs and policy priorities. Recognising the relevance and social commitment of the project, it has been endorsed by UNESCO as as a project forming part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030.
There will be invited talks by International and national experts in the respective fields of study.
Participant presentations and posters will also be part of the event.
Conference Themes
1. Sealevel Rise and Shoreline Changes Observations, modelling, coastal erosion, sediment dynamics, and longterm shoreline evolution.
2. Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Climate Extremes Climate drivers of HABs, marine heatwaves, extreme events, impacts on fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
3. Habitat Mapping Coastal and marine habitat assessment, remote sensing, ecosystem health, and biodiversity under climate stress.
4. Marine Spatial Planning and Adaptation Strategies Integrated planning approaches, naturebased solutions, policy frameworks, and adaptation pathways for coastal resilience.
Stakeholder Interaction Session
A dedicated stakeholder interaction session will facilitate discussions on climate change impacts along the Kerala coast, incorporating perspectives from coastal communities, government agencies, NGOs, and industry. This session aims to identify challenges, opportunities, and actionable adaptation strategies. The organisers Nansen Environmental Research Centre India (NERCI) is a research organization dedicated to understanding climate, ocean, and ecosystem processes using observations, modelling, and Earth system science approaches. It is approved by DSIR and is an affiliated research centre of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS). NERCI works closely with national and international partners to generate science-based knowledge that supports climate adaptation, environmental management, and sustainable development, particularly in coastal and marine regions.
NERCI is joined by Nansen Environmental and Remote sensing Center (NERSC), Norway, the co-ordinator of the C3e-Kerala project. NERSC, established in Bergen in 1986, currently has around 70 employees from more than 20 different countries. NERSC does research on ocean, sea ice and atmospheric conditions in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, and links to global climate change, and aim to deliver groundbreaking results in climate and environmental research.
Call for Abstracts
Researchers, earlycareer scientists and students are invited to submit abstracts for oral (limited number only) or poster presentations aligned with the conference themes.
No registration fee for submission of abstracts and participation in the conference
Abstract Guidelines:
Maximum length: 750 words
Indicate the preferred session and presentation type (oral/poster)
Abstracts to be sent to the mail id: keralacenerci@gmail.com
Important Dates
Abstract submission deadline: 25 th January 2026
Notification of acceptance: 31 st January 2026
Conference dates: 3-4 February 2026
Organising chairpersons:
Dr. Roshin P Raj,
Scientist & Co-ordinator, C3e-Kerala Project, NERSC, Norway
Dr. Nandini Menon N,
Principal Scientist & PI, C3e-Kerala project, NERCI, India
Long-term Satellite and Reanalysis products reveal how Winds and Surface Currents Fuel Ocean Eddies and Marine Life during Winter in the Southeastern Arabian Sea
A recent study by researchers from the Nansen Environmental Research Centre (India), Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center and Nansen Scientific Society, Norway, unravels the role of one of the generation mechanisms behind these oceanic whirlpools and links them to marine productivity during winter. This study titled "Enhanced eddy kinetic energy in the southeastern Arabian Sea during winter: the influence of surface currents and wind force" published in the international journal Deep-Sea Research Part II has shed new light on the powerful, swirling currents known as eddies in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS) during the winter season.
Eddies are the "weather systems" of the ocean, playing a crucial role in mixing water, transporting heat and nutrients, and influencing marine ecosystems. While the role of summer monsoon on the SEAS is well-studied, the winter season has remained relatively unexplored—until now.
The research team, comprising Mr. Ullas M. Pillai, Dr. Ajith Joseph K, Dr.Roshin P. Raj, and Prof. Ola M. Johannessen, analyzed 28 years (1993–2020) of satellite data and advanced ocean reanalysis models. They focused on Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE), a measure of the intensity of these swirling motions and their findings revealed a consistent seasonal peak in EKE during winter, with the most intense activity recorded in the winter of 2005-2006. But the key question was: what is generating this energy?
The study pinpointed a powerful mechanism: barotropic instability. This process acts like a generator, converting the steady flow of large-scale ocean currents into the turbulent energy of eddies.
The engine for this generator is the Northeast winds during winter in the SEAS. The research shows that a strong negative wind stress curl off the southern tip of India acts like a giant paddle, spinning the ocean surface. This wind forcing creates an anticyclonic (clockwise) circulation of ocean currents and a recirculation pattern in the Laccadive Sea. The intense horizontal shear in these currents becomes unstable, effectively transferring energy from the mean flow into vibrant, swirling eddies through barotropic instability.
Beyond the physics, the study uncovered a significant ecological impact. The team found a clear positive correlation between eddy activity (EKE) and chlorophyll-a concentration, a key indicator of phytoplankton—the base of the marine food web. This means that winters with more energetic eddies also see increase in chlorophyll-a concentration. The eddies likely stir up nutrient-rich deeper waters and the zonally transported waters from the Bay of Bengal, creating temporary chlorophyll-abundant regions within the study area. This enhanced productivity may support larger populations of fish, potentially boosting regional fisheries.
Location
Nansen Environmental Research Centre (India),
Amenity Centre,
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies,
Madavana Junction, Panangad P.O,
Kochi-682506., Kerala, INDIA.
25 years in Climate, Ocean & Environmental Research
© 2025 Nansen Centre. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Mapstrix Solutions
Nansen Research Fellows