A marine hazard is a potentially damaging event, phenomenon or activity in the marine environment that may cause loss of human life, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. They can either be natural (geological, meteo-climatic and biological) or induced by human activity. At CSIC we investigate jellyfish proliferations, parasites, harmful algal blooms, oil spills, storms and surges, heat waves, gas seepage, coastal and submarine erosion, submarine landslides, natural and induced earthquakes, volcanism and tsunamis. Our overall challenge is improving observations, models, and warning systems to help mitigating their impact to human lives, the economy, and the environment. To accomplish the challenge it is important to implement a common ¿ocean multi-hazard research¿ strategy with emphasis on trans-disciplinary collaboration. On one hand, it should include actions to improve the equipment of large infrastructures, incorporate new instrumentation in the laboratories, and develop data-sharing platforms. On the other hand, we should foster collaboration between groups working on similar or interrelated topics, and facilitate the effective transfer of relevant information for risk mitigation to general public and authorities. In the last 30 years, natural and anthropogenic hazards have caused over 1.6 million victims, the average economic losses are close to 300 thousand million dollars per year, and marine hazards are amongst the most destructive ones. Mitigating their impact through a denser set of observations, improved model predictions, better early warning systems, and a more efficient transfer of knowledge to the authorities will have huge socio-economic benefits, as it will allow saving lives and reducing economic losses or environmental degradation. Over 80 researchers from at least 14 research groups pertaining to several CSIC institutes work on different topics related to marine hazards. They participate in a large number of national and international projects and initiatives that include aspects of observational science, theoretical and numerical modelling and experimental procedures. The CSIC has also the technological expertise to operate the required remote sensing devices, instrumentation and experimental platforms

Presentación del "Capítulo 5. Ocean hazards" del Libro Blanco del CSIC durante el Día Mundial de los Océanos organizado por el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)