CTP: A hybrid CNN-Transformer-PINN model for ocean front forecasting

--This paper proposes CTP, a novel deep learning framework that integrates convolutional neural network(CNN), Transformer architectures, and physics-informed neural network(PINN) for ocean front prediction. Ocean fronts, as dynamic interfaces between distinct water masses, play critical roles in marine biogeochemical and physical processes. Existing methods such as LSTM, ConvLSTM, and AttentionConv often struggle to maintain spatial continuity and physical consistency over multi-step forecasts. Experimental results across south China sea(SCS) and Kuroshio(KUR) regions from 1993 to 2020 demonstrate that CTP achieves state-of-the-art(SOT A) performance in both single-step and multi-step predictions, significantly outperforming baseline models in accuracy, F 1 score, and temporal stability. I NTRODUCTION O CEAN fronts, characterized by sharp gradients in physical and biogeochemical properties such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient concentrations, are critical yet dynamic features of the global ocean [1]. These transitional zones, formed by the convergence of distinct water masses, play a pivotal role in regulating energy transfer, material cycling, and biological processes across marine ecosystems [2]. The study of fronts is essential for advancing understanding of ocean dynamics, as they act as hotspots for vertical mixing, influence large-scale circulation patterns, and modulate air-sea interactions that impact regional and global climate systems [3].