Internal waves are a fundamental component of ocean dynamics, playing a key role in ocean mixing, energy transfer, and large-scale circulation in a vertically stratified ocean, and thereby contributing to the regulation of oceanic heat and tracer distributions that are central to the climate system. Among these, internal solitary waves (ISWs) are particularly energetic nonlinear phenomena that propagate along the pycnocline, the sharp density interface separating water masses of different densities.

ISWs are primarily generated through the nonlinear evolution of internal tides over variable topography. Owing to their strong nonlinearity, they transport energy, mass, and momentum over long distances while inducing some of the largest vertical velocities observed in the ocean, as well as substantial vertical displacements of the water column. Through these intense dynamical processes, ISWs contribute significantly to the oceanic energy cascade and influence a wide range of oceanographic processes across coastal, shelf, and open-ocean environments. Their energetic nature also implies relevance for marine and offshore contexts, where strong currents, shear, and vertical motions may affect operational conditions. Despite this importance, the global occurrence, spatial patterns, and temporal variability of ISWs remain insufficiently documented.

The Internal Waves Service addresses this gap by providing a homogeneous, global-scale observational framework based on Sentinel-1 SAR Wave Mode imagery. At its current stage, the service operates as a prototype and focuses on robust and well-validated detection, establishing a reliable baseline to support both scientific studies and marine-related applications.