Abstract:

Selecting 767 papers published in the Journal of Tropical Oceanography (JTO) from 2012 to 2021 as research objects, we carried out bibliometric metrology and visualization analysis with CiteSpace software to understand the development of this periodical journal during this decade, and provided advices for the construction and management of JTO in the future. The results showed that the impact factors and the number of articles published in JTO had a descend and ascend trend in the past ten years, ranking in the forefront among Q2 marine journals, and entering Q1 in 2018 and 2019, respectively. JTO has distinct characteristics on the research of tropical oceans, especially the South China Sea. The key research areas include mesoscale vortices, numerical simulation, upwelling, coral reefs, phytoplankton, etc. JTO has a group of high-level core authors, mainly from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their research interests include marine geology, marine geophysics, ocean circulation, ocean remote sensing, marine biology and ecology, etc. Among the papers with high citation rate and high download rate, the review papers occupy a high proportion. In recent years, through the online launch, new media promotion and other means, the number of paper downloads has continuously increased and the influence of JTO has gradually enhanced.

Key words: Journal of Tropical Oceanography, bibliometrics, visual analysis, development of periodical