The purpose of this session is to share recent findings in the study of exchange processes between the shelf seas and the open ocean. We welcome studies on the physical processes as well as their interactions with biogeochemical process over the continental shelf, shelf break and continental slope. Contributions are invited on both theoretical and observational aspects of exchanges caused by currents, eddies, dense water cascades and overflows, tides, and turbulence and their impacts on the ecosystem components and carbon sequestration worldwide. Special attention will be given to the European semi-enclosed and marginal seas including the Black, Baltic, North and Mediterranean Seas in terms of their dynamics and biogeochemistry. We will discuss implications of climate change for shelf sea dynamics and their exchanges with the deep sea. We encourage discussions of pump-priming projects and innovative ideas, presentations on system-scale studies and inter-disciplinary research. The session is cross-linked with OS17 "Dense water cascades and overflows: physical, geological, chemical and biological related processes", to which contributions about dense water cascades/overflows that are not related to shelf-ocean exchange should be addressed. A key-note talk will be given by Prof John Huthnance.