The rapid expansion of offshore wind energy (OWE) is transforming coastal and marine ecosystems. Offshore wind farms modify atmospheric boundary layer dynamics, generate large wind wakes, alter air-sea exchanges, and influence ocean circulation and mixing processes. These physical disruptions affect marine ecosystems through cascading impacts on stratification, nutrient availability, primary productivity, biodiversity, and biogeochemical cycling. In seasonally ice-covered regions, offshore wind infrastructure may also interact with sea ice processes and winter navigation.
As developments scale up and move into deeper and higher-latitude waters, managing their footprint requires integrated approaches spanning atmospheric sciences, oceanography, sea ice physics, ecology, biogeochemistry and engineering. Sustainable OWE deployment relies on effective use of marine space that balances ecological constraints with shifting socioeconomic and climate realities. Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) solutions serve as a critical bridge in this landscape. By integrating multi-source data, high-fidelity ocean-atmosphere models, and machine learning, DTOs enable real-time tracking, prediction of cumulative impacts, understanding feedback mechanisms across Earth system components, and virtual stress-testing of turbine and farm placement to optimize OWE efficiency while minimizing ecological degradation. Ideally, DTOs inform Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and enable sustainable use of marine space.
This session invites studies investigating OWE impacts on atmospheric, oceanic, and sea ice processes, marine ecosystems, and their interactions using simulations, data-driven methods, in-situ observations, and remote sensing. Contributions on innovative cumulative impact assessment, DTO integration, multi-disciplinary modelling and decision-support tools are particularly welcome.