Research Roundup: the bibliometrics of marine geoscience and oceanography

Research and impact 29th July 2020

Dr Neil Mitchell has recently contributed a research article to Scienceometrics, titled: ‘Comparing the post-WWII publication histories of oceanography and marine geoscience‘. The article is a fascinating look at the distinctions and similarities between marine geoscience and oceanography. Dr Mitchell assesses the patterns in scientific publications within these subjects which can reveal trends that reflect changes in research style due to technological capabilities, economic and political factors.

Bibliometrics is the study of research article publishing.  It has become popular for investigating how different areas of research have changed over time.  In a study recently published, Neil Mitchell has investigated how the subjects of marine geoscience and oceanography have changed over time, and compared the performance of the UK in these fields against global trends.  The results show a rapid increase in article publication rates after World War II, with oceanography continuing to increase to the present day, while marine geoscience changed trend, declining from 1990.  Comparing those data against measures of work at sea revealed shifts in the way the subjects were carried out.  For example, before 1972, research ships were used to carry out increasing amounts of geophysical surveying each year and research articles were published at rates that also increased in proportion.  Before 1972, 1000-2000 km of surveying led to each article published.  However, after 1972, geophysical survey distances began to decline, while articles continued to be published at increasing rates.  By 1995, only 323 km of surveying led to each new article on average.  This indicates a major change in the way marine geoscience was carried out, with greater use of earlier-collected datasets as efforts were made to test the new theory of Plate Tectonics and investigate its consequences.  Other changes include the development of scientific drilling, which provided widespread access to samples beneath the seabed, and interest in the past climate and conditions in the oceans.

Mitchell, N.C. Comparing the post-WWII publication histories of oceanography and marine geoscience. Scientometrics 124, 843–866 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-020-03498-2

Dr Mitchell has compiled a news article summarising this study for Ocean Challenge, a newsletter of the Challenger Society for Marine Sciences, titled ‘Changes in publication rates and collaborative publishing over the past 80 years’, which is forthcoming in Autumn 2020. 

Bibliometricsdatasetsmarine geoscienceoceanographypast climatesplate tectonicsscientific drilling